Wood River, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Wood River, Illinois had a total population of 10,279, the 223rd largest city in Illinois, with a median household income of $62,703, which is 25% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 13.9%.
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 1.7x.
Wood River Quick Facts
How Wood River 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 | 10,315 | 10,279 | -0.3% |
| Median household income | $65,960 | $62,703 | -4.9% |
| Median home value | $103,200 | $108,100 | +4.7% |
How Wood River 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+)
Wood River Rankings in Illinois
Explore Illinois Rankings
Other Cities in Madison County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Granite City | 26,549 | $59,205 | 14.8% | $104,300 |
| Edwardsville | 26,474 | $86,721 | 11.6% | $299,800 |
| Alton | 25,279 | $54,568 | 21.0% | $103,700 |
| Collinsville | 24,031 | $67,612 | 12.0% | $163,600 |
| Godfrey | 17,712 | $94,543 | 6.4% | $192,200 |
| Glen Carbon | 13,977 | $97,168 | 4.9% | $282,000 |
| Troy | 11,647 | $112,434 | 2.0% | $268,000 |
| Highland | 10,262 | $82,551 | 6.0% | $202,900 |
| Bethalto | 9,239 | $64,775 | 12.3% | $168,900 |
| Maryville | 8,316 | $100,670 | 2.7% | $261,800 |
Cities Similar to Wood River
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summit | 10,846 | $61,863 | $232,600 | 14.0% | 11.2% |
| Lyons | 10,339 | $70,993 | $257,300 | 18.4% | 14.0% |
| River Grove | 10,451 | $69,858 | $241,800 | 24.9% | 6.2% |
| Taylorville | 10,646 | $57,552 | $104,100 | 15.8% | 12.4% |
| Worth | 10,700 | $56,288 | $215,000 | 18.7% | 21.1% |
Population Overview
Wood River is a small city located in Illinois, within Madison County. The total population is 10,279. It ranks as the 223rd most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.
Age Demographics
The median age in Wood River is 40.3 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 39.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Wood River is $62,703. This is 25% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 22% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.9%. This is 18% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 2.9%. This is 50% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $108,100. Housing costs are 59% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.7x, Wood River is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 66.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.
Race & Ethnicity
Wood River has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.6% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 5.1%. The Black or African American population (5.1%) is well below the state average of 13.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (4.0%) is well below the state average of 18.8%. The Asian population (0.0%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.
Education
15.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 59% 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 94.3%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Wood River, 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 Wood River, Illinois?
Wood River, Illinois has a population of 10,279 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Wood River, IL?
The median household income in Wood River is $62,703, which is 22% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Wood River, IL?
The poverty rate in Wood River is 13.9%. This means approximately 1,387 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Wood River, Illinois?
Wood River's population is 86.6% White, 5.1% Black, 4.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Wood River, IL?
The median home value in Wood River is $108,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.7x.
How educated is Wood River, Illinois?
15.5% of adults (25+) in Wood River hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 5.4% hold a graduate or professional degree.