County · Illinois

Macoupin County, Illinois

Macoupin County, Illinois. Macoupin County had 43,748 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.9% since 2020, a steeper fall than Illinois's (−0.8%). It holds 53 places (27 cities, villages and boroughs and 26 towns and townships) and 13 census tracts. GEOID 17117.

Macoupin County is one of the 15 counties of the St. Louis, MO-IL metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

43,748

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 44,967 · ACS 2020-2024: 44,350

Median household income

$70,805

±$4,838 (90% margin)
Illinois: $83,390

Median home value

$138,200

±$7,868 (90% margin)
Illinois: $263,300

Median gross rent

$801

±$45 (90% margin)
Illinois: $1,274

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

The 2020 Census counted 44,967 residents in Macoupin County. The Census Bureau estimates 43,748 for July 1, 2025, down 2.9% since 2020, a steeper fall than Illinois's (−0.8%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 44,350 over 863 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −308 (44,621)
2021→2022 −436 (44,185)
2022→2023 −128 (44,057)
2023→2024 −140 (43,917)
2024→2025 −169 (43,748)

Macoupin County in Illinois. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Macoupin County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	44,350	12,694,798	−1,113
Households	17,576±364	5,036,449	−1,299
Average household size	2.47±0.05	2.46	+0.11
Housing units	21,139±52	5,457,452	−599

Macoupin County's population since 2000

From 49,019 in 2000 to 43,748 in 2025: down 10.8%. 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 49,019
2005 (estimate) 48,418
2010 Census 47,765
2015 (estimate) 45,887
2020 Census 44,967
2025 (estimate) 43,748

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 Macoupin County?

Macoupin County holds 53 places: 27 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 26 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government). The largest is Carlinville Township with 6,256 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 Macoupin County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Carlinville Township	township	6,448	6,456±28	$63,984	$128,600	19.3%	100%
Carlinville	city	5,710	5,480±312	$57,708	$105,700	20.5%	100%
Staunton Township	township	5,526	5,423±22	$59,583	$142,000	15.0%	100%
Staunton	city	5,054	4,298±429	$57,904	$143,500	14.5%	100%
Brighton Township	township	3,896	3,856±17	$91,667	$165,500	7.7%	100%
Gillespie Township	township	3,684	3,611±23	$80,833	$97,500	15.4%	100%
Virden Township	township	3,339	3,305±16	$83,795	$107,200	9.8%	100%
Gillespie	city	3,168	2,815±252	$82,772	$91,000	17.1%	100%
Cahokia Township	township	3,151	3,128±37	$57,132	$96,900	15.1%	100%
Bunker Hill Township	township	3,148	3,120±19	$104,167	$183,500	6.1%	100%
Mount Olive Township	township	3,091	3,072±27	$62,561	$106,900	12.6%	100%
Virden	city	3,231	3,171±176	$80,577	$101,300	10.2%	95%
Girard Township	township	2,141	2,140±294	$52,370	$124,600	26.5%	100%
Mount Olive	city	2,015	1,872±201	$55,625	$94,100	17.8%	100%
Brighton	village	2,221	2,306±379	$80,214	$145,000	10.1%	86%
Girard	city	1,785	1,743±271	$50,300	$98,100	31.0%	100%
Bunker Hill	city	1,630	1,178±203	$75,917	$137,500	10.5%	100%
Dorchester Township	township	1,512	1,667±405	$68,690	$212,100	6.1%	100%
Benld	city	1,464	1,495±199	$47,850	$82,400	15.4%	100%
Shipman Township	township	1,278	1,275±253	$98,125	$144,400	9.6%	100%
North Palmyra Township	township	845	818±242	$61,905	$121,500	6.2%	100%
North Otter TownshipGEOID 1711754040	township	781	624±189	$135,132	$273,100	6.1%	100%
Chesterfield Township	township	744	712±206	$78,065	$140,300	12.8%	100%
South Palmyra Township	township	672	731±197	$72,292	$117,100	5.9%	100%
Brushy Mound TownshipGEOID 1711709135	township	633	391±178	not published	$269,700	8.4%	100%
Hillyard TownshipGEOID 1711735242	township	628	426±149	$43,636	$95,300	23.0%	100%
Nilwood TownshipGEOID 1711753052	township	620	445±154	$66,250	$80,400	7.4%	100%
Palmyra	village	605	486±98	$44,276	$87,500	8.0%	100%
Polk TownshipGEOID 1711760924	township	566	441±155	$83,864	$223,700	14.1%	100%
WilsonvilleGEOID 1782218	village	536	505±300	$45,417	$85,000	12.5%	100%
Shipman	town	511	618±207	$56,771	$89,400	13.7%	100%
Shaws Point TownshipGEOID 1711769121	township	469	512±179	$100,938	$184,700	5.5%	100%
South Otter TownshipGEOID 1711771123	township	440	436±177	$73,750	$210,000	4.8%	100%
MedoraGEOID 1748138	village	379	316±108	$76,750	$93,800	9.8%	99%
Barr TownshipGEOID 1711703792	township	314	405±234	$52,250	$173,300	38.3%	100%
Mount Clare	village	311	292±77	$66,875	$102,500	20.1%	100%
Bird TownshipGEOID 1711706067	township	291	400±125	$142,786	$230,000	0.0%	100%
East Gillespie	village	269	367±140	$63,500	$135,400	12.0%	100%
SawyervilleGEOID 1767873	village	268	200±83	$61,250	$100,000	8.0%	100%
Western Mound TownshipGEOID 1711780229	township	263	347±163	not published	$100,000	6.1%	100%
Scottville TownshipGEOID 1711768419	township	260	336±166	$51,563	$119,200	25.3%	100%
Honey Point TownshipGEOID 1711735996	township	227	273±245	$158,893	not published	0.0%	100%
White City	village	212	244±69	$79,583	$116,300	11.2%	100%
NilwoodGEOID 1753039	town	201	151±82	$46,771	$47,600	15.2%	100%
Lake Ka-Ho	village	194	235±76	$44,792	$59,300	23.8%	100%
ModestoGEOID 1749802	village	182	145±56	$70,417	$81,400	18.6%	100%
ChesterfieldGEOID 1713165	village	170	201±74	$60,000	$86,000	20.4%	100%
Royal LakesGEOID 1766196	village	167	301±149	not published	$54,300	24.3%	100%
HettickGEOID 1734423	village	149	153±64	$65,000	$142,500	7.8%	100%
Standard CityGEOID 1772234	village	135	182±95	$49,333	$70,000	6.4%	100%
DorchesterGEOID 1720370	village	133	182±132	$127,500	$153,800	0.5%	100%
EagarvilleGEOID 1721410	village	114	155±59	$70,781	$64,400	12.9%	100%
ScottvilleGEOID 1768406	village	93	94±40	$71,250	$103,800	3.3%	100%

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 Macoupin County?

The median resident of Macoupin County is 44.2 years old; 20.6% are under 18 and 21.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 93.5%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 3.0%. 0.9% 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	Macoupin County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	44.2±0.3	39.0	+0.5
Under 18 years	20.6%±0.1 pts	21.8%	–
65 years and over	21.6%±0.1 pts	17.0%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1.4%	18.8%	+0.2 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	93.5%±0.6 pts	58.1%	−2.6 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	1.5%±0.3 pts	13.3%	+0.5 pts
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.3%±0.1 pts	5.9%	−0.2 pts
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±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	3.0%±0.6 pts	3.4%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.2%±0.1 pts	0.4%	–
Born outside the United States	0.9%±0.3 pts	14.7%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	1.4%±0.4 pts	24.0%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	7.6%±0.9 pts	4.8%	–
With a disability	16.8%±1.3 pts	12.1%	–
No health insurance coverage	4.1%±0.7 pts	6.9%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	91.4%±1.3 pts	90.5%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	20.3%±1.6 pts	37.8%	no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	6.4%±0.9 pts	15.3%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	1.1%±0.6 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 Macoupin County earn?

Half of Macoupin County's 17,576 households earn less than $70,805 a year (±$4,838), against $83,390 in Illinois. In 2015-2019 it was $67,884 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 13.1% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Macoupin County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$70,805±$4,838	$83,390	no clear change
Mean household income	$90,728±$4,046	$115,638	–
Per capita income	$37,136±$1,542	$46,406	no clear change
People below the poverty line	13.1%±1.6 pts	11.8%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	15.8%±3.7 pts	15.1%	−5.6 pts
Households receiving SNAP	15.4%±2.0 pts	13.8%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	88.6%±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 Macoupin County?

Owners occupy 78.5% of Macoupin County's occupied homes and renters 21.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $138,200 by its owner (±$7,868). The median renter pays $801 a month including utilities, and 34.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Macoupin County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$138,200±$7,868	$263,300	+$14,392
Median gross rent	$801±$45	$1,274	−$62
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	34.8%±5.4 pts	39.0%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,250±$52	$1,987	–
Owner-occupied homes	78.5%±2.1 pts	67.1%	no clear change
Housing units	21,139±52	5,457,452	−599
Homeowner vacancy rate	1.5%±1.0 pts	1.0%	–
Rental vacancy rate	10.0%±4.2 pts	5.0%	–
Single-family detached homes	82.2%±1.7 pts	58.2%	–
Mobile homes	8.1%±1.4 pts	2.3%	–
Built 2020 or later	0.5%±0.3 pts	0.7%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	25.3%±1.9 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 Macoupin County building?

Builders took permits for 70 new housing units across Macoupin County in 2025 (70 single-family), 1.6 per 1,000 residents.

2019 61 units
2020 95 units
2021 71 units
2022 54 units
2023 61 units
2024 65 units
2025 70 units

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

How do people in Macoupin County get to work?

81.6% of Macoupin County's workers drive alone and 9.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 27.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.7%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Macoupin County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	57.1%±1.6 pts	65.0%	–
Unemployment rate	3.7%±0.8 pts	5.8%	−2.9 pts
Drove alone to work	81.6%±1.7 pts	65.9%	–
Carpooled	5.5%±1.0 pts	7.8%	–
Public transportation	0.2%±0.2 pts	5.8%	–
Walked	2.5%±0.9 pts	2.8%	–
Worked from home	9.4%±1.4 pts	15.9%	+4.3 pts
Mean travel time to work	27.5 min±1.5	27.8 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 are Macoupin County's census tracts?

Macoupin County is divided into 13 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $55,781 (Tract 9572) to $103,375 (Tract 9565).

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

Tract 956017117956000	Virden (93%)	3,064	2,997±133	$82,969	$100,100	$785	10.8%
Tract 956117117956100	Girard (50%)	3,099	3,064±277	$67,625	$177,800	$825	19.7%
Tract 956217117956200	Palmyra (19%)	2,333	2,526±360	$62,378	$149,000	$705	13.2%
Tract 956317117956300	Nilwood (9%)	3,073	2,838±315	$97,931	$170,100	$1,088	5.0%
Tract 956417117956400	Carlinville (89%)	5,329	5,179±241	$59,637	$114,100	$801	22.2%
Tract 956517117956500	Medora (13%)	2,506	2,451±274	$103,375	$164,500	$718	10.2%
Tract 956617117956600	Brighton (30%)	4,575	4,685±243	$93,850	$152,600	$936	7.9%
Tract 956717117956700	Bunker Hill (39%)	4,011	3,709±184	$91,667	$187,100	$859	8.0%
Tract 956817117956800	Wilsonville (22%)	2,664	2,780±386	$69,152	$203,200	$828	7.8%
Tract 956917117956900	Gillespie (89%)	3,579	3,285±274	$78,250	$101,400	$766	16.9%
Tract 957017117957000	Benld (30%)	3,474	3,965±319	$59,339	$99,200	$815	11.0%
Tract 957117117957100	Mount Olive (70%)	2,584	2,773±286	$63,370	$122,300	$734	14.1%
Tract 957217117957200	Staunton (97%)	4,676	4,098±371	$55,781	$136,500	$821	17.9%

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

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

Macoupin County's rank among Illinois's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	32nd of 102
Growth 2020-2025	65th of 102
Residents per square mile	45th of 102
Median household income	41st of 102
Median home value	46th of 102
Median gross rent	57th of 102
Poverty rate	46th of 102
Bachelor's degree or higher	62nd of 102
Median age	26th 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 Macoupin 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.