Zion city, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Zion city is a small city located in Illinois. The total population is 24,466. It ranks as the 92nd most populous out of 1,445 cities and towns in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Zion city is 34.0 years. This is 13% lower than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Zion city is $62,574. This is 23% lower than the state median of $81,702. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 20% lower. The poverty rate stands at 16.5%. This is 41% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. The unemployment rate is 6.7%. This is 16% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $179,100. Housing costs are 29% lower than the state median of $250,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Zion city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 56.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% lower than the state average of 66.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Zion city is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Black or African American residents account for 25.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (24.9%) is well below the state average of 58.8%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (25.3% vs 13.6%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (41.7% vs 18.5%). The Asian population (2.2%) is well below the state average of 5.8%.

Education

16.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 57% lower than the state rate of 37.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 85.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Zion city, Illinois is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. 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. For official data, visit data.census.gov.