City profile · Illinois · Census ACS 2023

East St. Louis, IL

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

18,278
Residents
$30,992
Median income
$52,700
Median home
$1,218
Median rent (state)

East St. Louis - the verdict

Nationally, East St. Louis sits in the 3rd percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

3rd
percentile, household income
1st
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: East St. Louis, IL

Illinois's East St. Louis is a small town, with 18,278 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in East St. Louis brings in $30,992 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 31.1%. East St. Louis's housing stock carries a median value of $52,700, and the median resident age is 45.1 years. About 14.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 41.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 0 residential units were authorized in 2024 (No Permits).

Illinois tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Illinois scores 100.0 (Near Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,218 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Illinois's average monthly utility costs around $240 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 94.9 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

18,278 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Illinois

Median Household Income

$30,992 /yr

Poverty 31.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.0 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Illinois average

How does East St. Louis compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 3% higher than other cities
Home value 1% 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 East St. Louis'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.

3rdIncome percentile

3rd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How East St. Louis's home value compares nationally

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

$52,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 99% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. East St. Louis $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 - East St. Louis, IL East St. Louis, IL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not East St. Louis, 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 East St. Louis, IL median $30,992/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%
East St. Louis, 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 East St. Louis, IL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 14.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 31.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 41.9%

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

Population
18,278
Median Income
$30,992
Median Home Value
$52,700
Median Age
45.1
Poverty Rate
31.1%
Labor force participation
41.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
14.7%

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
17,500 residents18,000 residents18,500 residents19,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 18,431 residents 17,682 residents ▼ -4.1%
East St. Louis'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 14
2021 0
2022 0
2023 139
2024 0

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
70.7%
Carpool
16.2%
Public Transit
2.5%
Walk
1.9%
Work from Home
6.6%
Other
2.1%

Based on 6,149 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 East St. Louis 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
94.9 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Illinois

Sycamore
18,243 people
Franklin Park
18,233 people
Shorewood
18,218 people
Bellwood
18,373 people
North Aurora
18,375 people
Palos Hills
18,139 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to East St. Louis's 18,278 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Syosset, NY
18,274 people
Lenoir, NC
18,282 people
Lake Ronkonkoma, NY
18,289 people
Lake Shore, MD
18,263 people
Colonia, NJ
18,294 people
Shenandoah, LA
18,259 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to East St. Louis's $30,992 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Longville, MN
$31,000 median income
Hickory Valley, TN
$31,000 median income
Sherwood Shores, TX
$31,000 median income
El Mangó comunidad, PR
$31,000 median income
Nogal, NM
$30,982 median income
Dale, PA
$30,982 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - East St. Louis, 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 East St. Louis, IL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 95.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.4% White 1.6% Black or African American 95.3% Asian 0.9% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.3% Two or more races 1.7% 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 East St. Louis 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
East St. Louis (this city) 18,278 $30,992
Sycamore 18,243 $80,837
Franklin Park 18,233 $76,009
Shorewood 18,218 $122,648
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IL Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about East St. Louis, IL?

What is the population of East St. Louis, IL? +

East St. Louis, IL has a population of 18,278 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in East St. Louis, IL? +

Median annual household income in East St. Louis runs $30,992, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in East St. Louis? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for East St. Louis; 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 East St. Louis, IL? +

Homes in East St. Louis carry a median value of $52,700, 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 Editorial

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.