Wamac, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Wamac, Illinois had a total population of 804, the 765th largest city in Illinois, with a median household income of $36,500, which is 56% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 27.7%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 56% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (27.7%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
- Only 0.7% 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 0.6x.
- Unemployment rate of 10.7% is notably above the national average.
Wamac Quick Facts
How Wamac 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 | 794 | 804 | +1.3% |
| Median household income | $40,000 | $36,500 | -8.8% |
| Median home value | $21,900 | $20,100 | -8.2% |
How Wamac 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+)
Wamac Rankings in Illinois
Explore Illinois Rankings
Other Cities in Marion County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centralia | 11,856 | $47,807 | 24.3% | $89,600 |
| Salem | 7,236 | $59,728 | 16.3% | $106,100 |
| Central City | 1,081 | $44,896 | 29.1% | $47,600 |
| Sandoval | 1,004 | $52,841 | 26.7% | $59,100 |
| Odin | 972 | $46,131 | 18.3% | $102,600 |
| Kinmundy | 803 | $42,303 | 15.8% | $95,400 |
| Junction City | 638 | $56,364 | 14.7% | $83,500 |
| Farina | 570 | $46,146 | 10.7% | $83,800 |
| Iuka | 534 | $61,146 | 9.6% | $72,600 |
| Patoka | 498 | $65,833 | 9.3% | $89,200 |
Cities Similar to Wamac
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kinmundy | 803 | $42,303 | $95,400 | 8.1% | 15.8% |
| Elkville | 751 | $39,063 | $71,000 | 9.5% | 23.1% |
| Hanover | 829 | $42,250 | $89,500 | 9.8% | 21.8% |
| Brookport | 733 | $38,000 | $58,300 | 7.7% | 27.6% |
| Hurst | 700 | $36,635 | $68,600 | 16.3% | 31.4% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 804, Wamac'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
Wamac is a small community located in Illinois, within Marion County. The total population is 804. It ranks as the 765th most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.
Age Demographics
The median age in Wamac is 46.7 years. This is 20% higher than the state median of 39.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Wamac is $36,500. This is 56% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 55% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 27.7%. This is 134% 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 10.7%. This is 83% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $20,100. Housing costs are 92% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 0.6x, Wamac is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 70.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% higher than the state average of 67.1%.
Race & Ethnicity
Wamac has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.0%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (93.0% vs 58.1%). The Black or African American population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 13.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 18.8%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.
Education
0.7% 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 98% 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 81.2%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Wamac, 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Wamac, Illinois?
Wamac, Illinois has a population of 804 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Wamac, IL?
The median household income in Wamac is $36,500, which is 55% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Wamac, IL?
The poverty rate in Wamac is 27.7%. This means approximately 222 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Wamac, Illinois?
Wamac's population is 93.0% White, 0.9% Black, 1.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.3% Asian.
What is the median home value in Wamac, IL?
The median home value in Wamac is $20,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 0.6x.
How educated is Wamac, Illinois?
0.7% of adults (25+) in Wamac hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 0.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.