City profile · Illinois · Census ACS 2023

Brussels, IL

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

136
Residents
$56,250
Median income
$126,300
Median home
$1,218
Median rent (state)

Brussels - the verdict

Nationally, Brussels sits in the 29th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

29th
percentile, household income
20th
percentile, home value
38th
percentile, median rent
📝 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: Brussels, IL

Illinois's Brussels is a small town, with 136 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $56,250 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 19.4%. Brussels's housing stock carries a median value of $126,300, and the median resident age is 40.8 years. 15.8% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 48.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 2 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

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 $1,218 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $240 across Illinois, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 6.1 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

136 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Illinois

Median Household Income

$56,250 /yr

Poverty 19.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.0 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Illinois average

How does Brussels compare to other US cities?

Where Brussels sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 29% higher than other cities
Home value 20% pricier than other cities
Median rent 38% pricier than other cities

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

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Brussels's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Illinois, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

29thIncome percentile

29th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Brussels's home value compares nationally

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

$126,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 80% 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%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Brussels $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 - Brussels, IL Brussels, IL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Brussels, 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 Brussels, IL median $56,250/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%
Brussels, 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 Brussels, IL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 15.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 19.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 48.1%

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

Population
136
Median Income
$56,250
Median Home Value
$126,300
Median Age
40.8
Poverty Rate
19.4%
Labor force participation
48.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
15.8%

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 →
110 residents111 residents112 residents113 residents114 residents 202020212022202320242025 113 residents 111 residents ▼ -1.8%
Brussels's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
78.5%
Carpool
12.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.5%
Work from Home
3.1%
Other
4.6%

Based on 65 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 Brussels sits in

Cost of Living Index
100.0
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,218/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
6.1 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Illinois

Beason
136 people
Ferris
135 people
Hamburg
135 people
Hettick
135 people
Otterville
137 people
Walnut Hill
135 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Brussels's 136 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Huslia, AK
136 people
Bethesda, AR
136 people
Uniontown, AR
136 people
Moskowite Corner, CA
136 people
Sail Harbor, CT
136 people
Deepstep, GA
136 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Brussels's $56,250 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

St. Florian, AL
$56,250 median income
Koliganek, AK
$56,250 median income
Newhalen, AK
$56,250 median income
St. Michael, AK
$56,250 median income
Fort Defiance, AZ
$56,250 median income
Taylor, AR
$56,250 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Brussels, 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 Brussels, IL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 76.5% 21.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.2% White 76.5% Black or African American 21.3% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 2.2% 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 Brussels 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
Brussels (this city) 136 $56,250
Beason 136 $53,235
Ferris 135 $51,250
Hamburg 135 $43,625
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IL NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Brussels, IL?

What is the population of Brussels, IL? +

Brussels, IL has a population of 136 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Brussels, the typical household earns $56,250 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Brussels? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Brussels; 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.

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

Brussels's median home value sits at $126,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, 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 Editorial

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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.