City profile · Illinois · Census ACS 2023

Lerna, IL

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

220
Residents
$48,750
Median income
$80,800
Median home
$965
Median rent (state)

Lerna - the verdict

Lerna ranks in the 18th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

18th
percentile, household income
4th
percentile, home value
12th
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: Lerna, IL

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 220 residents in Lerna, a small town within Illinois. Lerna households earn a median of $48,750 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 3.5%. Lerna's housing stock carries a median value of $80,800, and the median resident age is 30.3 years. 11.2% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 48.3% 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. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $965 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $240 across Illinois, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 70.4 out of 100 (High).

Population

220 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Illinois

Median Household Income

$48,750 /yr

Poverty 3.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.0 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Illinois average

How does Lerna compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 18% higher than other cities
Home value 4% pricier than other cities
Median rent 12% 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 Lerna against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Illinois only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Illinois-relative analysis

Median Home Value places Lerna toward the bottom of Illinois's cities

Among the 1,315 Illinois cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Lerna ranks #1,056 - the 19th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Lerna only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#1,118 of 1,311
14th percentile in Illinois
Median Gross Rent
#852 of 1,336
36th percentile in Illinois
Median Home Value
#1,056 of 1,315
19th percentile in Illinois
Poverty Rate
#977 of 1,335
26th percentile in Illinois
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#1,026 of 1,336
23rd 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.

18thIncome percentile

18th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Lerna's home value compares nationally

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

$80,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 96% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Lerna $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 - Lerna, IL Lerna, IL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Lerna, 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 Lerna, IL median $48,750/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%
Lerna, 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 Lerna, IL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 11.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 48.3%

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

Population
220
Median Income
$48,750
Median Home Value
$80,800
Median Age
30.3
Poverty Rate
3.5%
Labor force participation
48.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
11.2%

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
214 residents216 residents218 residents220 residents222 residents 202020212022202320242025 221 residents 216 residents ▼ -2.3%
Lerna's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
89.2%
Carpool
7.2%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
3.6%

Based on 83 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 Lerna sits in

Cost of Living Index
100.0
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$965/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
70.4 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Illinois

Cabery
219 people
Caledonia
219 people
Calhoun
219 people
East Carondelet
219 people
Kempton
221 people
Cedar Point
218 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Lerna's 220 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Talladega Springs, AL
220 people
St. Michael, AK
220 people
Dateland, AZ
220 people
St. Francis, AR
220 people
Summertown, GA
220 people
Wildwood, KY
220 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Lerna's $48,750 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Lakeview, AL
$48,750 median income
Providence, AL
$48,750 median income
Gambell, AK
$48,750 median income
Ak-Chin, AZ
$48,750 median income
Blanca, CO
$48,750 median income
Avalon, GA
$48,750 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Lerna, 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 Lerna, IL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 97.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 97.3% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 2.7% 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 Lerna 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
Lerna (this city) 220 $48,750
Cabery 219 $54,375
Caledonia 219 $86,513
Calhoun 219 $84,063
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IL OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Lerna, IL?

What is the population of Lerna, IL? +

Lerna, IL has a population of 220 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Lerna, the typical household earns $48,750 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Lerna? +

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

Homes in Lerna carry a median value of $80,800, 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.