Village · Illinois
Cobden, Illinois
Cobden, village, in Union County, Illinois. Cobden had 1,024 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 4.7% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,074 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,170 (±220). GEOID 1715300.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,024
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,074 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,170 ±220
Median household income
$46,458
±$13,232 (90% margin)
Illinois: $83,390
Median home value
$98,300
±$37,075 (90% margin)
Illinois: $263,300
Median gross rent
not published
Illinois: $1,274
Where is Cobden and what county is it in?
Cobden is a village in Union County, Illinois. It covers 1.2 square miles of land, 880 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Cobden, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 1,024 people lived in Cobden on July 1, 2025, down 4.7% since 2020, a steeper fall than Illinois's (−0.8%). The 2020 Census counted 1,074 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,170 (±220).
| Measure | Cobden | Union County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,170 ±220 | 16,997 | no clear change |
| Households | 427 ±91 | 6,868 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.56 ±0.41 | 2.35 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 535 ±99 | 7,851 | no clear change |
Cobden's population since 2000
From 1,116 in 2000 to 1,024 in 2025: down 8.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Cobden 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 Cobden?
The median resident of Cobden is 46.8 years old; 21.2% are under 18 and 23.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 63.5%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 31.5%. 16.3% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Cobden | Union County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.8 ±7.1 | 44.3 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 21.2% ±6.8 pts | 21.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 23.2% ±6.5 pts | 22.9% | – |
| Male | 57.4% ±8.2 pts | 50.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 31.5% ±10.8 pts | 5.5% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 63.5% ±10.7 pts | 89.5% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.5% ±1.1 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.4 pts | 0.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±3.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±3.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.2% ±2.9 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±3.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 16.3% ±6.2 pts | 3.0% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 31.7% ±10.4 pts | 5.6% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 11.3% ±7.5 pts | 7.6% | – |
| With a disability | 21.6% ±5.9 pts | 21.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.4% ±3.0 pts | 6.4% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 80.4% ±9.8 pts | 87.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 20.5% ±7.9 pts | 20.9% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 4.3% ±2.0 pts | 6.9% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 90.5% ±6.1 pts | 91.6% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.8% ±3.3 pts | 0.9% | – |
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 Cobden earn?
Half of Cobden's 427 households earn less than $46,458 a year (±$13,232), against $55,728 in Union County and $83,390 in Illinois. In 2015-2019 it was $51,205 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 28.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Cobden | Union County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $46,458 ±$13,232 | $55,728 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $71,245 ±$25,663 | $75,826 | – |
| Per capita income | $25,411 ±$8,489 | $31,657 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 28.8% ±11.8 pts | 20.2% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 23.6% ±19.5 pts | 26.2% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 18.5% ±9.9 pts | 17.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 67.4% ±13.4 pts | 81.5% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 61.6% ±12.7 pts | 72.6% | – |
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 Cobden?
Owners occupy 69.6% of Cobden's occupied homes and renters 30.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $98,300 by its owner (±$37,075).
| Measure | Cobden | Union County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $98,300 ±$37,075 | $131,700 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 63.1% ±28.0 pts | 44.5% | +34.1 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,125 ±$112 | $1,295 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 69.6% ±11.2 pts | 77.4% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 30.4% ±11.2 pts | 22.6% | – |
| Housing units | 535 ±99 | 7,851 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 5.1% ±5.8 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.5% ±10.0 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 77.8% ±8.6 pts | 74.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 3.6% ±3.5 pts | 13.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±6.8 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 0.2% ±0.7 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 26.0% ±8.0 pts | 18.6% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.7% ±5.5 pts | 9.6% | – |
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 many new homes is Cobden building?
Builders took permits for 0 new housing units in Cobden in 2025 (0 in single-family houses), 0.0 per 1,000 residents against 1.5 across Illinois.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Cobden work and get to work?
72.8% of Cobden's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 24.5 minutes.
| Measure | Cobden | Union County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 36.9% ±9.3 pts | 50.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% ±5.7 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 72.8% ±11.8 pts | 81.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 16.7% ±11.9 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Public transportation | 3.9% ±8.2 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Walked | 1.2% ±2.2 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 4.8% ±4.1 pts | 6.2% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 24.5 min ±5.3 | 24.4 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 Cobden?
No census tract lies mostly in Cobden; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9501Union County | 4,138 | $56,509 |
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 Cobden) · Census block assignment files
How does Cobden compare with other places in Illinois?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Cobden is the 10,165th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 644th-most populous of 1,294 in Illinois.
Cobden ranks 1,327th 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 | 644th | 1,294 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 1,276th | 1,347 |
| Residents per square mile | 671st | 1,383 |
| Median household income | 1,327th | 1,380 |
| Per capita income | 1,331st | 1,383 |
| Median home value | 1,193rd | 1,379 |
| Poverty rate | 24th | 1,119 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 861st | 1,369 |
| Median age | 196th | 1,383 |
| Owner-occupied share | 1,046th | 1,382 |
| Travel time to work | 786th | 1,382 |
Cobden's figures with every place in Illinois (CSV)
Every place in Illinois, sortable · Compare Cobden 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 Cobden?
20 of the 56 figures for Cobden 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 Cobden 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' public schools in Cobden.