Stanford, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Stanford, Illinois had a total population of 514, the 927th largest village in Illinois, with a median household income of $84,821, which is 2% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 15.0%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.4x.
- Unemployment rate of 9.9% is notably above the national average.
Stanford Quick Facts
How Stanford 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 | 469 | 514 | +9.6% |
| Median household income | $83,173 | $84,821 | +2.0% |
| Median home value | $101,800 | $115,300 | +13.3% |
How Stanford 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+)
Stanford Rankings in Illinois
Explore Illinois Rankings
Other Cities in McLean County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington | 78,907 | $77,384 | 11.0% | $203,300 |
| Normal | 53,569 | $64,785 | 21.4% | $213,600 |
| Le Roy | 3,236 | $81,875 | 2.8% | $167,600 |
| El Paso | 2,917 | $75,625 | 10.9% | $159,400 |
| Heyworth | 2,573 | $96,500 | 6.1% | $210,600 |
| Lexington | 2,126 | $99,167 | 4.2% | $172,500 |
| Hudson | 1,918 | $110,000 | 2.4% | $224,700 |
| Chenoa | 1,647 | $65,769 | 21.3% | $124,700 |
| Downs | 1,641 | $110,625 | 10.8% | $240,600 |
| Twin Grove | 1,458 | $116,250 | 4.2% | $264,800 |
Cities Similar to Stanford
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaneville | 523 | $86,875 | $318,100 | 29.1% | 3.1% |
| Olive Branch | 499 | N/A | $61,500 | 3.0% | 30.1% |
| Carlock | 500 | $85,625 | $154,600 | 18.5% | 2.9% |
| Hecker | 521 | $79,583 | $166,800 | 19.9% | 2.4% |
| Bismarck | 507 | $79,583 | $114,500 | 21.7% | 9.9% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 514, Stanford'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
Stanford is a small community located in Illinois, within McLean County. The total population is 514. It ranks as the 927th most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.
Age Demographics
The median age in Stanford is 32.3 years. This is 17% lower than the state median of 39.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Stanford is $84,821. This is 2% higher than the state median of $83,390. It is also 5% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 15.0%. This is 27% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 9.9%. This is 70% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $115,300. Housing costs are 56% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.4x, Stanford is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 90.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 34% higher than the state average of 67.1%.
Race & Ethnicity
Stanford has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.2% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 0.8%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (94.2% vs 58.1%). The Hispanic or Latino population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 18.8%.
Education
12.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 67% 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 95.2%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Stanford, 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 Stanford, Illinois?
Stanford, Illinois has a population of 514 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Stanford, IL?
The median household income in Stanford is $84,821, which is 5% higher than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Stanford, IL?
The poverty rate in Stanford is 15.0%. This means approximately 77 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Stanford, Illinois?
Stanford's population is 94.2% White, 0.0% Black, 0.8% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Stanford, IL?
The median home value in Stanford is $115,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.4x.
How educated is Stanford, Illinois?
12.3% of adults (25+) in Stanford hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 3.9% hold a graduate or professional degree.