Township · Illinois
Benton Township, Franklin County, Illinois
Benton Township, Franklin County, township, in Franklin County, Illinois. Benton Township, Franklin County had 8,535 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.4% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 8,662 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 8,623 (±39). GEOID 1705505313.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
8,535
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 8,662 · ACS 2020-2024: 8,623 ±39
Median household income
$55,610
±$10,346 (90% margin)
Illinois: $83,390
Median home value
$84,500
±$10,441 (90% margin)
Illinois: $263,300
Median gross rent
$824
±$61 (90% margin)
Illinois: $1,274
Where is Benton Township, Franklin County and what county is it in?
Benton Township, Franklin County is a township in Franklin County, Illinois. It covers 36.1 square miles of land, 240 residents per square mile in 2020.
2 places lie inside Benton Township (Franklin County): Benton (city, 6,709 in 2020) and Hanaford (village, 320 in 2020).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Benton Township, Franklin County, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 8,535 people lived in Benton Township, Franklin County on July 1, 2025, down 2.4% since 2020, a steeper fall than Illinois's (−0.8%). The 2020 Census counted 8,662 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 8,623 (±39).
| Measure | Benton Township, Franklin County | Franklin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 8,623±39 | 37,323 | −157 |
| Households | 3,917±219 | 16,137 | +341 |
| Average household size | 2.13±0.12 | 2.28 | −0.24 |
| Housing units | 4,482±212 | 18,462 | +329 |
Benton Township, Franklin County's population since 2000
From 8,561 in 2000 to 8,535 in 2025: down 0.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Benton Township, Franklin County as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Benton Township, Franklin County?
The median resident of Benton Township, Franklin County is 46.4 years old; 19.9% are under 18 and 26.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 90.7%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 4.8%. 1.6% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Benton Township, Franklin County | Franklin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.4±4.1 | 43.4 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 19.9%±2.5 pts | 22.1% | – |
| 65 years and over | 26.2%±2.3 pts | 21.0% | – |
| Male | 47.5%±2.8 pts | 49.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.0%±1.3 pts | 2.0% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 90.7%±1.9 pts | 94.1% | −3.7 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.7%±0.6 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.7%±0.7 pts | 0.4% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.4 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.8%±1.4 pts | 2.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.4 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.6%±1.0 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 4.2%±2.4 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 8.9%±2.7 pts | 8.2% | – |
| With a disability | 22.4%±3.6 pts | 21.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.7%±1.8 pts | 7.3% | −3.6 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 89.1%±2.8 pts | 89.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 19.8%±3.6 pts | 15.8% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 5.0%±1.7 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 85.0%±3.4 pts | 88.2% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 0.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Benton Township, Franklin County earn?
Half of Benton Township, Franklin County's 3,917 households earn less than $55,610 a year (±$10,346), against $56,740 in Franklin County and $83,390 in Illinois. In 2015-2019 it was $52,756 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 17.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Benton Township, Franklin County | Franklin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $55,610±$10,346 | $56,740 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $69,206±$9,207 | $72,759 | – |
| Per capita income | $30,552±$3,266 | $31,012 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 17.1%±5.3 pts | 17.5% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 17.9%±9.4 pts | 23.8% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 29.8%±5.5 pts | 25.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.0%±2.1 pts | 92.3% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 84.3%±5.0 pts | 83.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Benton Township, Franklin County?
Owners occupy 67.4% of Benton Township, Franklin County's occupied homes and renters 32.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $84,500 by its owner (±$10,441). The median renter pays $824 a month including utilities, and 49.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Benton Township, Franklin County | Franklin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $84,500±$10,441 | $89,000 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $824±$61 | $803 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 49.5%±11.3 pts | 39.3% | +16.0 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,063±$92 | $1,171 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 67.4%±4.8 pts | 74.1% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 32.6%±4.8 pts | 25.9% | – |
| Housing units | 4,482±212 | 18,462 | +329 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.3%±2.0 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 1.9%±2.7 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 77.1%±4.2 pts | 79.1% | – |
| Mobile homes | 6.5%±2.6 pts | 10.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.5%±0.4 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.8%±2.2 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 17.5%±4.3 pts | 22.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 5.7%±2.7 pts | 6.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Benton Township, Franklin County work and get to work?
72.4% of Benton Township, Franklin County's workers drive alone and 11.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.9%.
| Measure | Benton Township, Franklin County | Franklin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 54.3%±4.2 pts | 56.0% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9%±2.5 pts | 7.7% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 72.4%±5.6 pts | 79.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 14.2%±4.9 pts | 10.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.4%±0.6 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Walked | 0.8%±0.9 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 11.3%±3.7 pts | 7.2% | +8.9 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 23.8 min±2.6 | 26.9 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Benton Township, Franklin County?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Benton Township, Franklin County, and 3 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $51,838 (Tract 407) to $57,875 (Tract 406).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 407Franklin County | 4,420 | $51,838 |
| Tract 406Franklin County | 2,586 | $57,875 |
| Tract 405Franklin County | 3,284 | $61,006 |
| Tract 412Franklin County | 3,706 | $65,856 |
| Tract 408Franklin County | 3,327 | $87,222 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Benton Township, Franklin County) · Census block assignment files
How does Benton Township, Franklin County compare with other places in Illinois?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Benton Township, Franklin County is the 1,455th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 169th-most populous of 1,407 in Illinois.
Benton Township, Franklin County ranks 1,191st of 1,380 places in Illinois with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 169th | 1,407 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 795th | 1,347 |
| Residents per square mile | 875th | 1,383 |
| Median household income | 1,191st | 1,380 |
| Per capita income | 1,150th | 1,383 |
| Median home value | 1,295th | 1,379 |
| Median gross rent | 912th | 1,280 |
| Poverty rate | 206th | 1,119 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 893rd | 1,369 |
| Median age | 211th | 1,383 |
| Owner-occupied share | 1,119th | 1,382 |
| Work from home | 490th | 1,015 |
| Travel time to work | 849th | 1,382 |
Benton Township, Franklin County's figures with every place in Illinois (CSV)
Every place in Illinois, sortable · Compare Benton Township, Franklin County with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Benton Township, Franklin County?
11 of the 57 figures for Benton Township, Franklin County on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Benton Township, Franklin County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.