City profile · Illinois · Census ACS 2023

Elsah, IL

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

655
Residents
$83,750
Median income
$207,100
Median home
$1,218
Median rent (state)

Elsah - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Elsah places in the 65th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

65th
percentile, household income
45th
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: Elsah, IL

655 people live in Elsah, Illinois - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $83,750 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 0.0%. Home values in Elsah run a median of $207,100, and the median resident age is 20.6 years. Educational attainment runs 61.4% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 45.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

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. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Illinois run around $240, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 18.9 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

655 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Illinois

Median Household Income

$83,750 /yr

Poverty 0.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.0 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Illinois average

How does Elsah compare to other US cities?

Here's how Elsah stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 65% higher than other cities
Home value 45% 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

Each percentile compares Elsah 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 Elsah near the bottom of Illinois's cities

Among the 1,335 Illinois cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Elsah ranks #1,245 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Elsah only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#358 of 1,311
73rd percentile in Illinois
Median Gross Rent
#378 of 1,336
65th percentile in Illinois
Median Home Value
#334 of 1,315
75th percentile in Illinois
Poverty Rate
#1,245 of 1,335
0th percentile in Illinois
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#57 of 1,336
96th 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.

65thIncome percentile

65th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Elsah's home value compares nationally

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

$207,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 55% 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%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Elsah $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 - Elsah, IL Elsah, IL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Elsah, 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 Elsah, IL median $83,750/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%
Elsah, 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 Elsah, IL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 61.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 0.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 45.9%

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

Population
655
Median Income
$83,750
Median Home Value
$207,100
Median Age
20.6
Poverty Rate
0.0%
Labor force participation
45.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
61.4%

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
510 residents520 residents530 residents540 residents550 residents 202020212022202320242025 525 residents 539 residents ▲ +2.7%
Elsah's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
26.8%
Carpool
2.4%
Public Transit
1.2%
Walk
51.2%
Work from Home
16.5%
Other
1.9%

Based on 254 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 Elsah 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
18.9 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Illinois

Grand Ridge
649 people
Holiday Hills
662 people
Woodlawn
646 people
Hutsonville
645 people
Mettawa
665 people
Shipman
667 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Elsah's 655 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Reynolds, IN
655 people
Brighton, IA
655 people
Kevil, KY
655 people
Poplar, MT
655 people
Bettsville, OH
655 people
Glasgow, OR
655 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Elsah's $83,750 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Denali Park, AK
$83,750 median income
Euharlee, GA
$83,750 median income
Iona, ID
$83,750 median income
Clare, IA
$83,750 median income
Gilbertville, IA
$83,750 median income
Trufant, MI
$83,750 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Elsah, 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 Elsah, IL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 70.4% 10.5% 10.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 8.8% White 70.4% Black or African American 10.5% Asian 10.7% American Indian 0.3% Native Hawaiian 1.7% Some other race 3.5% 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 Elsah 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
Elsah (this city) 655 $83,750
Grand Ridge 649 $84,375
Holiday Hills 662 $78,500
Woodlawn 646 $70,455
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IL OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Elsah, IL?

What is the population of Elsah, IL? +

655 people live in Elsah, IL according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Elsah households earn a median of $83,750 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Elsah? +

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

Homes in Elsah carry a median value of $207,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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