Sumner, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Sumner is a small community located in Illinois, within Lawrence County. The total population is 2,252. It ranks as the 484th most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Sumner is 37.2 years. This is 5% lower than the state median of 39.0 years. Only 11.1% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Sumner is $55,625. This is 33% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 31% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 35.3%. This is 199% 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 19.7%. This is 238% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $46,000. Housing costs are 83% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 0.8x, Sumner is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 71.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% higher than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Sumner is White (non-Hispanic), making up 57.6% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 31.8%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (31.8% vs 13.3%). The Hispanic or Latino population (9.0%) is well below the state average of 18.8%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.

Education

4.4% 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 88% 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 63.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Sumner, 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.