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Williamson County, Illinois Demographics 2026

Williamson County, Illinois has a population of 66,876, the 22nd most populous county in Illinois. The median household income is $65,604 and the median home value is $156,400. The poverty rate is 13.8%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Williamson County Quick Facts

Population 66,876
Median Household Income $65,604
Median Home Value $156,400
Poverty Rate 13.8%
Unemployment Rate 5.0%
Median Age 41.6 years
Homeownership Rate 70.7%
Affordability Ratio 2.4x
Bachelor's Degree+ 26.3%
High School Graduation 92.8%
Cities/Places 19
Population 66,876 22nd of 102
Median Income $65,604 21% lower than state
Poverty Rate 13.8%
Unemployment 5.0%

How Williamson County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population66,90266,876-0.0%
Median household income$65,521$65,604+0.1%
Median home value$145,600$156,400+7.4%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 15.9%
$25K-$50K 23.0%
$50K-$100K 29.0%
$100K+ 32.1%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
5.0%
$10K-$15K
4.6%
$15K-$20K
3.3%
$20K-$25K
3.0%
$25K-$30K
5.8%
$30K-$35K
4.6%
$35K-$40K
3.9%
$40K-$45K
4.9%
$45K-$50K
3.8%
$50K-$60K
7.4%
$60K-$75K
10.1%
$75K-$100K
11.6%
$100K-$125K
10.2%
$125K-$150K
7.5%
$150K-$200K
8.3%
$200K+
6.0%

Employment

5.0% Unemployment Rate State: 5.8%|National: 5.2%
58.8% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 70.7%
Renter 29.3%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.4x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $930/mo 17.0% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

22out of 100
Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 61 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Williamson County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Carbondale22,158$32,12837.4%$127,900
Marion16,836$56,91213.3%$158,300
Herrin12,226$59,97514.5%$113,300
Carterville5,818$62,33710.9%$197,100
Johnston City3,327$42,46517.8%$88,100
Crainville1,641$65,46110.2%$185,300
Cambria1,300$57,75618.5%$143,800
Energy1,050$65,35715.2%$151,800
Hurst700$36,63531.4%$68,600
Pittsburg682$53,20317.9%$129,200
Stonefort422$56,47711.6%$65,700
Crab Orchard394$148,9065.6%N/A
Bush354$55,3572.5%$78,000
Creal Springs324$53,12521.3%$55,800
Whiteash301$114,4640.0%N/A
Spillertown246$81,2500.8%$152,500
Blairsville231$73,2295.2%$181,500
Colp223N/A47.1%$69,300
Freeman Spur149$35,00024.2%$60,600

Population Overview

Williamson County is located in Illinois with a total population of 66,876. It is the 22nd most populous county out of 102 in Illinois. The county encompasses 19 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Williamson County is 41.6 years. This is 7% higher than the state median of 39.0 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Williamson County is $65,604. This is 21% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 19% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.8%. This is 16% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 5.0%. This is 14% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $156,400. Housing costs are 41% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Williamson County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 70.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% higher than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

Williamson County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 87.9% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 4.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (87.9% vs 58.1%). The Black or African American population (4.3%) is well below the state average of 13.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.9%) is well below the state average of 18.8%. The Asian population (1.4%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.

Education

26.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 31% 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 92.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Williamson 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Williamson County, Illinois?

Williamson County has a population of 66,876, making it the 22nd most populous county in Illinois.

What is the median income in Williamson County?

The median household income in Williamson County is $65,604 with a poverty rate of 13.8%.

How many cities are in Williamson County, Illinois?

Williamson County contains 19 Census-designated places.