Township · Illinois

New Athens Township, Illinois

New Athens Township, township, in St. Clair County, Illinois. New Athens Township had 2,396 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 5.4% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 2,562 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 2,633 (±435). GEOID 1716352129.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

2,396

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 2,562 · ACS 2020-2024: 2,633 ±435

Median household income

$51,786

±$14,274 (90% margin)
Illinois: $83,390

Median home value

$136,400

±$49,683 (90% margin)
Illinois: $263,300

Median gross rent

$993

±$196 (90% margin)
Illinois: $1,274

Where is New Athens Township and what county is it in?

New Athens Township is a township in St. Clair County, Illinois. It covers 34.0 square miles of land, 75 residents per square mile in 2020.

One place lies inside New Athens Township: New Athens (village, 1,955 in 2020).

New Athens Township is in the St. Louis, MO-IL metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 15 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

New Athens Township (marked with a dot) in St. Clair County, Illinois. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in New Athens Township, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 2,396 people lived in New Athens Township on July 1, 2025, down 5.4% since 2020, a steeper fall than Illinois's (−0.8%). The 2020 Census counted 2,562 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 2,633 (±435).

  • July 2020→2021 −27 (2,497)
  • 2021→2022 −34 (2,463)
  • 2022→2023 −27 (2,436)
  • 2023→2024 −15 (2,421)
  • 2024→2025 −25 (2,396)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
MeasureNew Athens TownshipSt. Clair CountyIllinoisChange since 2015-2019
Total population2,633±435253,69412,694,798no clear change
Households1,136±236100,8465,036,449no clear change
Average household size2.30±0.252.472.46no clear change
Housing units1,205±231115,6305,457,452no clear change

New Athens Township's population since 2000

From 2,620 in 2000 to 2,396 in 2025: down 8.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for New Athens Township 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.

  • 2000 Census 2,620
  • 2005 (estimate) 2,621
  • 2010 Census 2,657
  • 2015 (estimate) 2,529
  • 2020 Census 2,562
  • 2025 (estimate) 2,396

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 New Athens Township?

The median resident of New Athens Township is 51.7 years old; 16.3% are under 18 and 28.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 94.8%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 3.2%.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
MeasureNew Athens TownshipSt. Clair CountyIllinoisChange since 2015-2019
Median age51.7±11.239.939.0+12.6
Under 18 years16.3%±5.5 pts23.0%21.8%–
65 years and over28.4%±12.1 pts17.3%17.0%–
Male48.8%±4.4 pts48.5%49.4%–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)1.6%±1.9 pts5.1%18.8%–
White alone, not Hispanic94.8%±5.2 pts59.1%58.1%no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic0.0%±0.3 pts27.7%13.3%–
Asian alone, not Hispanic0.5%±0.7 pts1.6%5.9%–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic0.0%±1.4 pts0.2%0.1%–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic0.0%±1.4 pts0.0%0.0%–
Two or more races, not Hispanic3.2%±4.3 pts5.8%3.4%–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic0.0%±1.4 pts0.5%0.4%–
Born outside the United States0.0%±1.4 pts3.3%14.7%–
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)0.5%±0.5 pts5.0%24.0%–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)6.3%±3.2 pts11.5%4.8%–
With a disability23.5%±5.5 pts15.2%12.1%–
No health insurance coverage4.7%±3.0 pts5.1%6.9%no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)92.0%±6.4 pts93.5%90.5%–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)19.7%±8.0 pts31.8%37.8%no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)3.4%±2.0 pts13.8%15.3%–
Lived in the same house a year earlier92.5%±4.5 pts88.3%88.9%–
Moved from another state in the past year0.0%±1.4 pts3.0%1.6%–

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 New Athens Township earn?

Half of New Athens Township's 1,136 households earn less than $51,786 a year (±$14,274), against $73,854 in St. Clair County and $83,390 in Illinois. In 2015-2019 the median was $85,480 in 2024 dollars, so it fell by $33,694 after inflation. 9.2% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
MeasureNew Athens TownshipSt. Clair CountyIllinoisChange since 2015-2019
Median household income$51,786±$14,274$73,854$83,390−$33,694
Mean household income$74,249±$10,791$96,049$115,638–
Per capita income$35,032±$7,084$38,942$46,406no clear change
People below the poverty line9.2%±4.4 pts13.6%11.8%no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line8.6%±8.8 pts18.9%15.1%–
Households receiving SNAP6.6%±4.2 pts16.2%13.8%–
Households with a computer93.9%±2.9 pts94.2%95.2%–
Households with a broadband subscription77.6%±18.3 pts89.7%90.8%–

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 New Athens Township?

Owners occupy 86.9% of New Athens Township's occupied homes and renters 13.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $136,400 by its owner (±$49,683). The median renter pays $993 a month including utilities, and 66.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
MeasureNew Athens TownshipSt. Clair CountyIllinoisChange since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)$136,400±$49,683$180,300$263,300no clear change
Median gross rent$993±$196$1,090$1,274no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent66.7%±25.4 pts39.8%39.0%no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage$1,409±$206$1,645$1,987–
Owner-occupied homes86.9%±6.2 pts68.4%67.1%no clear change
Renter-occupied homes13.1%±6.2 pts31.6%32.9%–
Housing units1,205±231115,6305,457,452no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate0.0%±3.7 pts1.1%1.0%–
Rental vacancy rate0.0%±22.0 pts4.7%5.0%–
Single-family detached homes81.2%±7.5 pts72.1%58.2%–
Mobile homes4.8%±3.2 pts4.4%2.3%–
Built 2020 or later0.0%±3.1 pts0.9%0.7%–
Built 2010 to 20192.6%±3.5 pts7.3%5.0%–
Built 1939 or earlier39.4%±15.1 pts13.5%20.2%–
Households with no vehicle2.8%±2.3 pts7.5%11.0%–

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 New Athens Township work and get to work?

84.4% of New Athens Township's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 29.4 minutes.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
MeasureNew Athens TownshipSt. Clair CountyIllinoisChange since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)54.8%±10.9 pts63.4%65.0%–
Unemployment rate3.7%±3.6 pts6.0%5.8%–
Drove alone to work84.4%±6.8 pts75.4%65.9%–
Carpooled5.5%±4.2 pts8.1%7.8%–
Public transportation0.7%±1.3 pts1.6%5.8%–
Walked3.5%±2.6 pts1.5%2.8%–
Worked from home5.4%±5.0 pts12.4%15.9%–
Mean travel time to work29.4 min±4.724.0 min27.8 minno 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 New Athens Township?

1 census tract lies mostly in New Athens Township (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in New Athens Township, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in New Athens Township
Tract 5040.01St. Clair County5,240 $93,958 $266,60070%

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 New Athens Township) · Census block assignment files

How does New Athens Township compare with other places in Illinois?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, New Athens Township is the 4,233rd-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 382nd-most populous of 1,407 in Illinois.

New Athens Township ranks 1,256th of 1,380 places in Illinois with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

New Athens Township's rank in Illinois (1 = highest): by population among the state's towns and townships with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate382nd1,407
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)1,315th1,347
Residents per square mile1,073rd1,383
Median household income1,256th1,380
Per capita income886th1,383
Median home value912th1,379
Median gross rent576th1,280
Poverty rate627th1,119
Bachelor's degree or higher898th1,369
Median age48th1,383
Owner-occupied share295th1,382
Travel time to work322nd1,382

New Athens Township's figures with every place in Illinois (CSV)

Every place in Illinois, sortable · Compare New Athens Township 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 New Athens Township?

22 of the 57 figures for New Athens Township 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 New Athens Township 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' school search.