Schuyler County, Illinois Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Schuyler County is located in Illinois with a total population of 6,787. It is the 90th most populous county out of 102 in Illinois. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Schuyler County is 49.1 years. This is 26% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. 10.5% 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 Schuyler County is $65,948. This is 21% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 18% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.8%. This is 76% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 5.0%. This is 15% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $109,700. Housing costs are 58% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.7x, Schuyler County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 79.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 18% higher than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

Schuyler County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.2% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 3.7%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (90.2% vs 58.1%). The Black or African American population (3.7%) is well below the state average of 13.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.7%) is well below the state average of 18.8%. The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.

Education

19.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 50% 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 92.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Schuyler 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.