City profile · Illinois · Census ACS 2023

Central City, IL

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

1,123
Residents
$47,750
Median income
$43,900
Median home
$916
Median rent (state)

Central City - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Central City lands in the 16th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

16th
percentile, household income
0th
percentile, home value
5th
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: Central City, IL

Illinois's Central City is a small town, with 1,123 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Central City brings in $47,750 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 20.1%. Typical homes in Central City are valued around $43,900, and the median resident age is 38.5 years. Educational attainment runs 7.7% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 55.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 0 residential building permits were authorized in Central City (No Permits), per Census BPS data.

Illinois tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Illinois at 100.0 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Near Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $916 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Illinois run around $240, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 77.1 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (High).

Population

1,123 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Illinois

Median Household Income

$47,750 /yr

Poverty 20.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.0 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Illinois average

How does Central City compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 16% higher than other cities
Home value 0% pricier than other cities
Median rent 5% 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

Each percentile compares Central City 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 Central City near the bottom of Illinois's cities

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

Median Household Income
#1,137 of 1,311
13th percentile in Illinois
Median Gross Rent
#935 of 1,336
0th percentile in Illinois
Median Home Value
#1,296 of 1,315
1st percentile in Illinois
Poverty Rate
#114 of 1,335
91st percentile in Illinois
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#1,177 of 1,336
12th 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.

16thIncome percentile

16th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Central City's home value compares nationally

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

$43,900 Among the most affordable more affordable than 100% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $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. Central City $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 - Central City, IL Central City, IL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Central City, 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 Central City, IL median $47,750/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%
Central City, 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 Central City, IL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 7.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 20.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 55.9%

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

Population
1,123
Median Income
$47,750
Median Home Value
$43,900
Median Age
38.5
Poverty Rate
20.1%
Labor force participation
55.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
7.7%

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,060 residents1,080 residents1,100 residents1,120 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,103 residents 1,067 residents ▼ -3.3%
Central City's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 0

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
81.9%
Carpool
15.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.3%
Work from Home
0.4%
Other
0.8%

Based on 474 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 Central City 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
77.1 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Illinois

East Hazel Crest
1,122 people
Bannockburn
1,125 people
Bull Valley
1,121 people
Lovington
1,120 people
Assumption
1,117 people
Homer
1,130 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Central City's 1,123 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Bloomsdale, MO
1,123 people
Corcovado comunidad, PR
1,123 people
Highland, AR
1,124 people
Blacklake, CA
1,122 people
Sycamore, GA
1,124 people
Tunnel Hill, GA
1,122 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Central City's $47,750 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Neosho Falls, KS
$47,750 median income
Westport, OR
$47,750 median income
Santa Anna, TX
$47,750 median income
Florida City, FL
$47,754 median income
Elkins, WV
$47,746 median income
Pioneer, OH
$47,768 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Central City, 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 Central City, IL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 96.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.4% White 96.0% Black or African American 1.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.2% Two or more races 1.8% 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 Central City 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
Central City (this city) 1,123 $47,750
East Hazel Crest 1,122 $57,000
Bannockburn 1,125 $195,625
Bull Valley 1,121 $185,417
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IL Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Central City, IL?

What is the population of Central City, IL? +

The population of Central City, IL stands at 1,123 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Central City, IL? +

The median household income in Central City is $47,750 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Central City? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Central City; 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 Central City, IL? +

A typical home in Central City is worth $43,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

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.