Raleigh, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Raleigh, Illinois had a total population of 235, the 1158th largest village in Illinois, with a median household income of $49,167, which is 41% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 17.4%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 41% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- Only 9.0% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.6x.
- Unemployment rate of 12.5% is notably above the national average.
Raleigh Quick Facts
How Raleigh Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 238 | 235 | -1.3% |
| Median household income | $52,083 | $49,167 | -5.6% |
| Median home value | $70,600 | $80,000 | +13.3% |
How Raleigh Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 61 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Raleigh Rankings in Illinois
Explore Illinois Rankings
Other Cities in Saline County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg | 8,372 | $43,415 | 29.0% | $84,100 |
| Eldorado | 3,771 | $37,154 | 22.4% | $66,200 |
| Carrier Mills | 1,634 | $50,729 | 25.4% | $60,100 |
| Galatia | 913 | $48,258 | 7.3% | $70,200 |
| Muddy | 67 | N/A | 29.0% | N/A |
Cities Similar to Raleigh
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabery | 235 | $48,750 | $107,600 | 8.5% | 23.8% |
| Gladstone | 237 | $50,000 | $59,400 | 3.3% | 10.1% |
| Alexander | 239 | N/A | $118,200 | 18.9% | 0.0% |
| Cisco | 234 | $50,625 | $113,100 | 18.7% | 12.4% |
| Palmer | 241 | $49,500 | $82,900 | 8.5% | 11.2% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 235, Raleigh'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
Raleigh is a small community located in Illinois, within Saline County. The total population is 235. It ranks as the 1158th most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.
Age Demographics
The median age in Raleigh is 53.8 years. This is 38% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. 11.5% 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 Raleigh is $49,167. This is 41% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 39% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 17.4%. This is 48% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 12.5%. This is 114% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $80,000. Housing costs are 70% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.6x, Raleigh is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 87.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 30% higher than the state average of 67.1%.
Race & Ethnicity
Raleigh has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 96.6% of all residents. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (96.6% vs 58.1%).
Education
9.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 76% 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 89.9%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Raleigh, 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.
Free data download: Get all Illinois city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Raleigh, Illinois?
Raleigh, Illinois has a population of 235 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Raleigh, IL?
The median household income in Raleigh is $49,167, which is 39% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Raleigh, IL?
The poverty rate in Raleigh is 17.4%. This means approximately 41 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Raleigh, Illinois?
Raleigh's population is 96.6% White, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Raleigh, IL?
The median home value in Raleigh is $80,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.6x.
How educated is Raleigh, Illinois?
9.0% of adults (25+) in Raleigh hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 0.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.