Perry, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 206, Perry's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Perry is a small community located in Illinois, within Pike County. The total population is 206. It ranks as the 1195th most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Perry is 56.6 years. This is 45% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. Only 8.7% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 16.5% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Perry is $44,792. This is 46% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 45% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 18.9%. This is 60% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The survey records no unemployed residents in Perry, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $86,900. Housing costs are 67% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Perry is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 81.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 22% higher than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

Perry has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.7% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 1.0%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (92.7% vs 58.1%). The Black or African American population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 13.3%.

Education

11.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 70% lower than the state rate of 37.9%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Perry, Illinois is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Illinois state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.