Pope County, Illinois Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Pope County is located in Illinois with a total population of 3,739. It is the 101st most populous county out of 102 in Illinois. The county encompasses 2 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Pope County is 53.9 years. This is 38% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. Only 14.4% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 11.1% 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 Pope County is $60,050. This is 28% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 26% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.3%. This is 13% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 2.8%. This is 52% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $143,800. Housing costs are 45% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Pope County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 86.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 29% higher than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

Pope County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.7% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 4.8%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (88.7% vs 58.1%). The Black or African American population (4.8%) is well below the state average of 13.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.0%) is well below the state average of 18.8%. The Asian population (0.0%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.

Education

15.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 59% 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 92.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Pope County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Illinois and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.