Shirley, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 103, Shirley'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

Shirley is a small community located in Illinois, within McLean County. The total population is 103. It ranks as the 1329th most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Shirley is 38.6 years. This is 1% lower than the state median of 39.0 years. With 30.1% of the population under 18, Shirley has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Shirley is $36,490. This is 56% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 55% lower than the national median of $80,734. The ACS records no residents below the poverty line in Shirley. In a community this small the estimate rests on very few survey responses, so it should be read as an absence of measurement rather than a measured absence of poverty. The survey records no unemployed residents in Shirley, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $84,800. Housing costs are 68% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Shirley is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 49% higher than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Shirley is White (non-Hispanic), making up 68.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 31.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (31.1% vs 18.8%).

Education

5.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 85% 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 88.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Shirley, 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.