City profile · Illinois · Census ACS 2023

Arcola, IL

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Arcola - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

2,867
Residents
$85,697
Median income
$122,800
Median home
$916
Median rent (state)

Arcola - the verdict

Nationally, Arcola sits in the 67th percentile for household income and the 69th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

67th
percentile, household income
18th
percentile, home value
5th
percentile, median rent
69th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Arcola, IL

Arcola is a small town in Illinois, home to 2,867 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Arcola households earn a median of $85,697 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 4.9%. Typical homes in Arcola are valued around $122,800, and the median resident age is 35.8 years. 18.8% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 65.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 7 residential building permits were authorized in Arcola (Building Boom), up 250% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Arcola reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 869.0 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, below the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Illinois tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 100.0 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $916 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $240 across Illinois, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 62.1 out of 100 (Moderate).

Population

2,867 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Illinois

Median Household Income

$85,697 /yr

Poverty 4.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.0 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Illinois average

How does Arcola compare to other US cities?

Arcola measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 67% higher than other cities
Home value 18% pricier than other cities
Median rent 5% pricier than other cities
Safety 69% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Illinois, Arcola ranks #206 of 455 Illinois cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Arcola against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Illinois only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Illinois-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Arcola near the bottom of Illinois's cities

Among the 1,336 Illinois cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Arcola ranks #935 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Arcola only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#334 of 1,311
75th percentile in Illinois
Median Gross Rent
#935 of 1,336
0th percentile in Illinois
Median Home Value
#631 of 1,315
52nd percentile in Illinois
Poverty Rate
#850 of 1,335
36th percentile in Illinois
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#634 of 1,336
52nd percentile in Illinois

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Illinois only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

67thIncome percentile
69thSafety percentile

67th percentile nationally for median household income · 69th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Arcola's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Arcola's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 75 Avg. percentile National median
Arcola's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Arcola's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$122,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 82% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Arcola $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Arcola, IL Arcola, IL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Arcola, IL-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Arcola, IL median $85,697/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Arcola, IL's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Arcola, IL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 18.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 65.8%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
2,867
Median Income
$85,697
Median Home Value
$122,800
Median Age
35.8
Poverty Rate
4.9%
Labor force participation
65.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
18.8%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
869.0
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
347.6
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
521.4
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
2,900 residents2,910 residents2,920 residents2,930 residents2,940 residents 202020212022202320242025 2,933 residents 2,928 residents ▼ -0.2%
Arcola's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
7
housing units authorized
Single-Family
7
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 2
2020 2
2021 2
2022 0
2023 4
2024 7

Permit volume increased 250% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
71.0%
Carpool
19.9%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.2%
Work from Home
4.8%
Other
3.1%

Based on 1,454 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Illinois - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$100
avg/month
Natural Gas
$90
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$240
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Illinois state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Illinois state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Arcola sits in

Cost of Living Index
100.0
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$916/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
62.1 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Illinois

El Paso
2,871 people
Newton
2,852 people
Savanna
2,851 people
Winnebago
2,896 people
Galena
2,899 people
Diamond
2,900 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Arcola's 2,867 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Hurlburt Field, FL
2,867 people
Stirling, NJ
2,868 people
Aspinwall, PA
2,866 people
Frisco, CO
2,865 people
Fairfax, IA
2,865 people
Rineyville, KY
2,869 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Arcola's $85,697 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Delta Junction, AK
$85,694 median income
Pasadena Hills, MO
$85,694 median income
Eden, NY
$85,707 median income
Running Springs, CA
$85,681 median income
Hill City, SD
$85,714 median income
Osceola, NE
$85,673 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Arcola, IL Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Arcola, IL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 62.9% 8.6% 23.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 45.8% White 62.9% Black or African American 3.0% Asian 0.2% American Indian 1.5% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 8.6% Two or more races 23.7% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Arcola compares to nearby Illinois cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Arcola (this city) 2,867 $85,697
El Paso 2,871 $70,063
Newton 2,852 $58,564
Savanna 2,851 $46,094
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IL FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Arcola, IL?

What is the population of Arcola, IL? +

Arcola, IL has a population of 2,867 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Arcola, IL? +

The median household income in Arcola is $85,697 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Arcola? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Arcola; the closest available measure is the Illinois state average, a cost of living index of 100.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Illinois vary by metro area.

Is Arcola, IL safe? +

Arcola has a total crime rate of 869.0 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Arcola, IL? +

A typical home in Arcola is worth $122,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.