Plum Valley, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 520, Plum Valley'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

Plum Valley is a small community located in Illinois, within Will County. The total population is 520. It ranks as the 923rd most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Plum Valley is 45.3 years. This is 16% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. With 29.2% of the population under 18, Plum Valley has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 11.2% 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 Plum Valley is $142,169. This is 70% higher than the state median of $83,390. It is also 76% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 1.4%. This is 89% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 2.6%. This is 56% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $339,200. Housing costs are 29% higher than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Plum Valley is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 84.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 26% higher than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Plum Valley is Black or African American, making up 51.3% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 37.5%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (51.3% vs 13.3%).

Education

56.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Plum Valley in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 50% higher than the state rate of 37.9%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample. Notably, 38.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Plum Valley, 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.