City profile · Illinois · Census ACS 2023

Dolton, IL

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

20,979
Residents
$58,706
Median income
$140,500
Median home
$1,781
Median rent (state)

Dolton - the verdict

Dolton ranks in the 33rd percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

33rd
percentile, household income
24th
percentile, home value
72nd
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: Dolton, IL

20,979 people live in Dolton, Illinois - a small city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Dolton brings in $58,706 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 14.9%. Typical homes in Dolton are valued around $140,500, and the median resident age is 40.0 years. 22.7% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 52.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 0 residential building permits were authorized in Dolton (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 $1,781 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Illinois's average monthly utility costs around $240 (state average). Workers in Dolton report an average commute of 28.7 minutes, with 68.9% driving alone and 11.1% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 100.0 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

20,979 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Illinois

Median Household Income

$58,706 /yr

Poverty 14.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.0 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Illinois average

How does Dolton compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 33% higher than other cities
Home value 24% pricier than other cities
Median rent 72% 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 Dolton against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Illinois only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Illinois-relative analysis

Poverty Rate places Dolton toward the top of Illinois's cities

Among the 1,335 Illinois cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Dolton ranks #245 - the 81st percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Dolton only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#868 of 1,311
34th percentile in Illinois
Median Gross Rent
#17 of 1,336
77th percentile in Illinois
Median Home Value
#539 of 1,315
59th percentile in Illinois
Poverty Rate
#245 of 1,335
81st percentile in Illinois
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#476 of 1,336
64th 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.

33rdIncome percentile

33rd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Dolton's home value compares nationally

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

$140,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 76% 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. Dolton $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 - Dolton, IL Dolton, IL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Dolton, 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 Dolton, IL median $58,706/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%
Dolton, 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 Dolton, IL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 22.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 14.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 52.2%

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

Population
20,979
Median Income
$58,706
Median Home Value
$140,500
Median Age
40.0
Poverty Rate
14.9%
Labor force participation
52.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
22.7%

Schools

Total Schools
9
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
20,500 residents21,000 residents21,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 21,327 residents 20,671 residents ▼ -3.1%
Dolton'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

Average Commute Time
28.7 minutes
Drive Alone
68.9%
Carpool
8.2%
Public Transit
7.8%
Walk
2.1%
Work from Home
11.1%
Other
1.9%

Based on 8,365 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 Dolton sits in

Cost of Living Index
100.0
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,781/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
100.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Illinois

South Holland
21,016 people
Park Forest
20,898 people
East Moline
20,837 people
Montgomery
21,205 people
Grayslake
20,707 people
Geneva
21,299 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Dolton's 20,979 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Anna, TX
20,975 people
Princeton, TX
20,966 people
Murphy, TX
21,001 people
Covington, WA
20,957 people
Fort Walton Beach, FL
20,956 people
Sulphur, LA
21,004 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Dolton's $58,706 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Wimauma, FL
$58,708 median income
Clarion, IA
$58,702 median income
Cherryville, NC
$58,701 median income
Kirby, TX
$58,700 median income
Bucklin, KS
$58,699 median income
Two Rivers, WI
$58,716 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Dolton, 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 Dolton, IL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 90.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.2% White 4.9% Black or African American 90.9% Asian 0.2% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.0% Two or more races 2.9% 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 Dolton 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
Dolton (this city) 20,979 $58,706
South Holland 21,016 $87,378
Park Forest 20,898 $62,305
East Moline 20,837 $63,328
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IL NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Dolton, IL?

What is the population of Dolton, IL? +

20,979 people live in Dolton, IL according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Dolton, the typical household earns $58,706 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Dolton? +

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

A typical home in Dolton is worth $140,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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