City · Illinois
McLeansboro, Illinois
McLeansboro, city, in Hamilton County, Illinois. McLeansboro had 2,585 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.8% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 2,675 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 2,675 (±269). GEOID 1745824.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
2,585
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 2,675 · ACS 2020-2024: 2,675 ±269
Median household income
$45,422
±$7,114 (90% margin)
Illinois: $83,390
Median home value
$79,500
±$22,798 (90% margin)
Illinois: $263,300
Median gross rent
$566
±$53 (90% margin)
Illinois: $1,274
Where is McLeansboro and what county is it in?
McLeansboro is a city in Hamilton County, Illinois. It covers 2.7 square miles of land, 975 residents per square mile in 2020.
McLeansboro lies entirely within McLeansboro Township, a township with its own local government (2020 census blocks).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in McLeansboro, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 2,585 people lived in McLeansboro on July 1, 2025, down 1.8% since 2020, a steeper fall than Illinois's (−0.8%). The 2020 Census counted 2,675 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 2,675 (±269).
| Measure | McLeansboro | Hamilton County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 2,675 ±269 | 7,916 | no clear change |
| Households | 1,274 ±146 | 3,387 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.02 ±0.21 | 2.30 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,384 ±132 | 3,803 | no clear change |
McLeansboro's population since 2000
From 2,945 in 2000 to 2,585 in 2025: down 12.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for McLeansboro 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 McLeansboro?
The median resident of McLeansboro is 41.8 years old; 20.9% are under 18 and 21.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 94.2%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 3.2%.
| Measure | McLeansboro | Hamilton County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 ±5.3 | 43.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 20.9% ±4.0 pts | 21.9% | – |
| 65 years and over | 21.2% ±4.1 pts | 22.9% | – |
| Male | 51.0% ±4.9 pts | 49.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.6% ±0.9 pts | 0.7% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 94.2% ±3.1 pts | 94.7% | −3.9 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±1.3 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.9 pts | 0.5% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.4 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.7 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.2% ±2.4 pts | 3.2% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.7 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.3% ±0.8 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 0.3% ±0.8 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 8.7% ±4.9 pts | 7.7% | – |
| With a disability | 25.5% ±6.7 pts | 19.2% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.1% ±4.1 pts | 7.6% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 90.1% ±4.3 pts | 91.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 20.0% ±6.8 pts | 21.0% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 9.5% ±4.3 pts | 8.6% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 86.7% ±7.3 pts | 92.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.7% ±3.4 pts | 1.5% | – |
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 McLeansboro earn?
Half of McLeansboro's 1,274 households earn less than $45,422 a year (±$7,114), against $65,746 in Hamilton County and $83,390 in Illinois. In 2015-2019 the median was $57,877 in 2024 dollars, so it fell by $12,455 after inflation. 22.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | McLeansboro | Hamilton County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $45,422 ±$7,114 | $65,746 | −$12,455 |
| Mean household income | $59,396 ±$8,500 | $92,896 | – |
| Per capita income | $28,952 ±$4,270 | $39,790 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 22.3% ±8.0 pts | 12.1% | +10.9 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 22.2% ±15.9 pts | 15.7% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 19.1% ±8.0 pts | 15.2% | – |
| Households with a computer | 82.8% ±7.7 pts | 85.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 79.7% ±8.1 pts | 80.7% | – |
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 McLeansboro?
Owners occupy 62.4% of McLeansboro's occupied homes and renters 37.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $79,500 by its owner (±$22,798). The median renter pays $566 a month including utilities.
| Measure | McLeansboro | Hamilton County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $79,500 ±$22,798 | $113,700 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $566 ±$53 | $568 | −$104 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 17.3% ±12.8 pts | 19.0% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,108 ±$312 | $1,167 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 62.4% ±8.5 pts | 76.4% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 37.6% ±8.5 pts | 23.6% | – |
| Housing units | 1,384 ±132 | 3,803 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±4.4 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±7.5 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 68.4% ±7.4 pts | 76.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 13.6% ±6.1 pts | 16.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±2.7 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.8% ±3.7 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 17.1% ±7.8 pts | 16.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 8.6% ±5.6 pts | 5.4% | – |
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 do people in McLeansboro work and get to work?
92.2% of McLeansboro's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 25.6 minutes.
| Measure | McLeansboro | Hamilton County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 57.7% ±6.0 pts | 58.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 1.2% ±1.5 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 92.2% ±5.5 pts | 89.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 3.7% ±3.2 pts | 6.1% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.9% ±1.4 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Walked | 2.5% ±3.1 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 0.7% ±1.4 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 25.6 min ±5.2 | 26.8 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 McLeansboro?
1 census tract lies mostly in McLeansboro, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9731Hamilton County | 3,060 | $46,981 |
| Tract 9732Hamilton County | 2,143 | $89,500 |
| Tract 9733Hamilton County | 2,713 | $75,949 |
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 McLeansboro) · Census block assignment files
How does McLeansboro compare with other places in Illinois?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, McLeansboro is the 6,804th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 437th-most populous of 1,294 in Illinois.
McLeansboro ranks 1,335th 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 | 437th | 1,294 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 639th | 1,347 |
| Residents per square mile | 636th | 1,383 |
| Median household income | 1,335th | 1,380 |
| Per capita income | 1,226th | 1,383 |
| Median home value | 1,324th | 1,379 |
| Median gross rent | 1,254th | 1,280 |
| Poverty rate | 85th | 1,119 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 883rd | 1,369 |
| Median age | 603rd | 1,383 |
| Owner-occupied share | 1,246th | 1,382 |
| Travel time to work | 692nd | 1,382 |
McLeansboro's figures with every place in Illinois (CSV)
Every place in Illinois, sortable · Compare McLeansboro 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 McLeansboro?
22 of the 57 figures for McLeansboro 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 McLeansboro 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 McLeansboro.