Pope County, Illinois Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Pope County is located in Illinois with a total population of 3,757. It is the 101st most populous county out of 102 in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Pope County is 50.8 years. This is 31% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Pope County is $62,500. This is 24% lower than the state median of $81,702. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 20% lower. The poverty rate stands at 14.3%. This is 22% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. The unemployment rate is 3.0%. This is 48% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $165,300. Housing costs are 34% lower than the state median of $250,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Pope County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 86.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 29% higher than the state average of 66.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Pope County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.2% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 5.0%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (89.2% vs 58.8%). The Black or African American population (5.0%) is well below the state average of 13.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.6%) is well below the state average of 18.5%. The Asian population (0.0%) is well below the state average of 5.8%.

Education

16.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 55% 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 91.7%.