County · Illinois

Knox County, Illinois

Knox County, Illinois. Knox County had 47,767 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 4.4% since 2020, a steeper fall than Illinois's (−0.8%). It holds 37 places (15 cities, villages and boroughs, 20 towns and townships and 2 census-designated) and 16 census tracts. GEOID 17095.

Knox County is the county of the Galesburg, IL micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

47,767

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 49,967 · ACS 2020-2024: 49,046

Median household income

$57,030

±$3,310 (90% margin)
Illinois: $83,390

Median home value

$111,900

±$4,687 (90% margin)
Illinois: $263,300

Median gross rent

$788

±$45 (90% margin)
Illinois: $1,274

How many people live in Knox County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 49,967 residents in Knox County. The Census Bureau estimates 47,767 for July 1, 2025, down 4.4% since 2020, a steeper fall than Illinois's (−0.8%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 49,046 over 716 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −506 (49,306)
2021→2022 −644 (48,662)
2022→2023 −471 (48,191)
2023→2024 −227 (47,964)
2024→2025 −197 (47,767)

Knox County in Illinois. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Knox County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	49,046	12,694,798	−1,462
Households	20,972±403	5,036,449	no clear change
Average household size	2.15±0.04	2.46	−0.08
Housing units	23,758±93	5,457,452	no clear change

Knox County's population since 2000

From 55,836 in 2000 to 47,767 in 2025: down 14.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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 55,836
2005 (estimate) 53,513
2010 Census 52,919
2015 (estimate) 51,377
2020 Census 49,967
2025 (estimate) 47,767

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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Knox County?

Knox County holds 37 places: 15 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 20 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 2 census-designated places. The largest is Galesburg with 28,581 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Knox County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Galesburg	city	30,052	29,481±30	$48,297	$96,400	19.1%	100%
Knox Township	township	4,922	4,871±33	$82,353	$143,100	11.3%	100%
Cedar Township	township	3,047	2,993±40	$66,713	$125,100	5.6%	100%
Abingdon	city	2,951	3,443±394	$61,653	$99,600	9.2%	100%
Knoxville	city	2,901	3,211±220	$82,863	$145,300	7.2%	100%
Indian Point Township	township	1,473	1,796±363	$62,586	$79,700	16.8%	100%
Henderson Township	township	1,136	1,627±425	$72,116	$199,700	6.9%	100%
Persifer Township	township	1,118	1,190±252	$73,906	$279,200	3.4%	100%
Sparta Township	township	1,064	908±214	$69,028	$108,100	7.2%	100%
Ontario Township	township	932	1,037±346	$72,375	$113,200	2.5%	100%
Salem Township, Knox County	township	926	667±145	$71,250	$98,000	4.7%	100%
Truro Township	township	836	772±192	$86,417	$128,300	7.1%	100%
East Galesburg	village	763	713±137	$79,333	$123,700	17.5%	100%
Wataga	village	744	710±168	$62,917	$97,600	9.3%	100%
Oak Run	CDP	721	800±183	$100,417	$298,300	3.3%	100%
Oneida	city	696	719±242	$66,791	$114,100	3.6%	100%
Walnut Grove Township, Knox County	township	685	707±174	$57,917	$141,800	8.2%	100%
Yates City	village	642	500±134	$63,750	$97,100	6.3%	100%
Williamsfield	village	575	531±158	$82,417	$109,800	4.0%	100%
Orange Township, Knox CountyGEOID 1709556315	township	530	566±194	$82,426	$306,700	7.6%	100%
Rio Township	township	498	343±91	$76,500	$132,700	11.7%	100%
Altona	village	463	498±163	$69,375	$102,000	7.6%	100%
Maquon Township	township	446	360±97	$66,447	$83,800	8.1%	100%
Galesburg TownshipGEOID 1709528339	township	406	226±93	$84,722	$214,000	0.0%	100%
Copley TownshipGEOID 1709516275	township	402	441±164	$92,031	$141,700	4.1%	100%
Haw Creek TownshipGEOID 1709533552	township	383	370±121	not published	not published	3.8%	100%
Victoria TownshipGEOID 1709577824	township	365	260±68	$58,542	$105,600	13.5%	100%
Lynn Township, Knox CountyGEOID 1709545330	township	282	75±37	$44,750	not published	12.0%	100%
VictoriaGEOID 1777811	village	268	254±75	$59,375	$85,000	5.9%	100%
Henderson	village	266	284±90	$57,875	$111,100	23.7%	100%
Elba TownshipGEOID 1709522879	township	248	190±99	$105,938	$225,000	0.0%	100%
MaquonGEOID 1746695	village	218	161±51	$63,125	$72,500	11.9%	100%
Chestnut TownshipGEOID 1709513217	township	216	166±105	not published	not published	39.2%	100%
Rio	village	209	205±58	$72,500	$115,600	19.5%	100%
GilsonGEOID 1729340	CDP	156	120±53	$44,531	$30,000	11.7%	100%
St. AugustineGEOID 1766677	village	119	92±40	not published	$49,000	23.9%	100%
London Mills	village	350	328±99	$53,125	$64,400	23.5%	1%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Knox County?

The median resident of Knox County is 42.6 years old; 20.2% are under 18 and 22.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 79.9%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 8.0%. 3.2% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Knox County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	42.6±0.4	39.0	no clear change
Under 18 years	20.2%±0.2 pts	21.8%	–
65 years and over	22.2%±0.2 pts	17.0%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	6.4%	18.8%	+0.6 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	79.9%±0.5 pts	58.1%	−3.0 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	8.0%±0.6 pts	13.3%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	1.3%±0.1 pts	5.9%	+0.2 pts
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.1%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	4.0%±0.8 pts	3.4%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.4%±0.3 pts	0.4%	–
Born outside the United States	3.2%±0.5 pts	14.7%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	5.2%±0.9 pts	24.0%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	7.3%±0.7 pts	4.8%	–
With a disability	15.0%±1.2 pts	12.1%	–
No health insurance coverage	5.0%±0.8 pts	6.9%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	89.9%±1.2 pts	90.5%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	21.0%±1.4 pts	37.8%	+2.1 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	7.4%±0.9 pts	15.3%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	1.7%±0.5 pts	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 Knox County earn?

Half of Knox County's 20,972 households earn less than $57,030 a year (±$3,310), against $83,390 in Illinois. In 2015-2019 it was $54,309 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 14.6% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Knox County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$57,030±$3,310	$83,390	no clear change
Mean household income	$74,560±$3,018	$115,638	–
Per capita income	$31,878±$1,182	$46,406	+$1,671
People below the poverty line	14.6%±1.6 pts	11.8%	−3.6 pts
Children under 18 below the poverty line	17.9%±3.3 pts	15.1%	−7.3 pts
Households receiving SNAP	15.4%±1.6 pts	13.8%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	84.0%±1.7 pts	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 Knox County?

Owners occupy 70.8% of Knox County's occupied homes and renters 29.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $111,900 by its owner (±$4,687). The median renter pays $788 a month including utilities, and 40.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Knox County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$111,900±$4,687	$263,300	+$9,752
Median gross rent	$788±$45	$1,274	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	40.3%±4.6 pts	39.0%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,177±$41	$1,987	–
Owner-occupied homes	70.8%±1.9 pts	67.1%	+4.1 pts
Housing units	23,758±93	5,457,452	no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate	2.1%±1.1 pts	1.0%	–
Rental vacancy rate	6.4%±2.5 pts	5.0%	–
Single-family detached homes	76.7%±1.6 pts	58.2%	–
Mobile homes	3.8%±1.0 pts	2.3%	–
Built 2020 or later	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.7%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	35.1%±2.2 pts	20.2%	–

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 many new homes is Knox County building?

Builders took permits for 1 new housing units across Knox County in 2025 (1 single-family), 0.0 per 1,000 residents.

2019 16 units
2020 19 units
2021 3 units
2022 3 units
2023 1 units
2024 2 units
2025 1 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Knox County get to work?

79.1% of Knox County's workers drive alone and 5.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 20.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.1%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Knox County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	55.3%±1.4 pts	65.0%	–
Unemployment rate	5.1%±1.2 pts	5.8%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	79.1%±2.0 pts	65.9%	–
Carpooled	8.9%±1.5 pts	7.8%	–
Public transportation	0.5%±0.3 pts	5.8%	–
Walked	4.1%±0.8 pts	2.8%	–
Worked from home	5.7%±0.9 pts	15.9%	+2.5 pts
Mean travel time to work	20.4 min±1.5	27.8 min	+2.0 min

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 are Knox County's census tracts?

Knox County is divided into 16 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $18,264 (Tract 8) to $90,585 (Tract 14).

Census tracts of Knox County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 117095000100	Oneida (11%)	3,011	2,713±376	$71,515	$122,800	$789	6.5%
Tract 217095000200	Oak Run (17%)	2,985	2,745±282	$78,370	$188,900	$646	6.5%
Tract 317095000300	Galesburg (91%)	4,134	4,217±398	$59,010	$99,100	$876	7.3%
Tract 417095000400	Galesburg (85%)	4,873	4,349±378	$52,352	$193,000	$835	12.2%
Tract 517095000500	Galesburg (87%)	5,462	5,203±422	$60,938	$118,600	$843	10.1%
Tract 617095000600	Galesburg	3,497	3,402±464	$72,869	$104,900	$931	18.0%
Tract 717095000700	Galesburg (93%)	1,901	1,868±299	$39,922	$80,100	$884	28.4%
Tract 817095000800	Galesburg	2,391	2,516±247	$18,264	$79,200	$474	36.1%
Tract 917095000900	Galesburg (90%)	2,047	1,996±272	$26,816	$57,900	$708	28.8%
Tract 1017095001000	Galesburg (97%)	3,657	3,663±501	$43,816	$77,200	$796	20.8%
Tract 1117095001100	Galesburg (83%)	2,245	2,562±399	$46,618	$81,000	$1,015	37.7%
Tract 1217095001200	East Galesburg (24%)	1,612	1,624±256	$79,375	$161,300	$920	8.3%
Tract 1317095001300	Knoxville (70%)	3,722	3,843±198	$74,118	$145,300	$619	11.1%
Tract 1417095001400	Galesburg (1%)	1,717	1,677±203	$90,585	$195,000	$725	7.9%
Tract 1517095001500	Abingdon (59%)	3,682	3,907±347	$62,526	$100,800	$732	11.0%
Tract 1617095001600	Yates City (13%)	3,031	2,761±344	$71,250	$117,800	$810	5.8%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Knox County compare with Illinois's other counties?

Knox County's rank among Illinois's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	29th of 102
Growth 2020-2025	89th of 102
Residents per square mile	35th of 102
Median household income	89th of 102
Median home value	76th of 102
Median gross rent	64th of 102
Poverty rate	29th of 102
Bachelor's degree or higher	48th of 102
Median age	50th of 102

Every county in Illinois

Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Knox County 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.