Pontiac city, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Pontiac city is a small city located in Illinois. The total population is 11,483. It ranks as the 202nd most populous out of 1,445 cities and towns in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Pontiac city is 43.4 years. This is 12% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Pontiac city is $59,579. This is 27% lower than the state median of $81,702. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 24% lower. The poverty rate stands at 9.9%. This is 15% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. The unemployment rate is 4.2%. This is 28% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $110,200. Housing costs are 56% lower than the state median of $250,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x, Pontiac city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 65.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% lower than the state average of 66.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Pontiac city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 82.3% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 8.7%. The Hispanic or Latino population (5.3%) is well below the state average of 18.5%. The Asian population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 5.8%.

Education

16.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 57% lower than the state rate of 37.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 85.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Pontiac city, Illinois is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. 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. For official data, visit data.census.gov.