County · Illinois
Pope County, Illinois
Pope County, Illinois. Pope County had 3,672 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.5% since 2020, a steeper fall than Illinois's (−0.8%). It holds 2 places (2 cities, villages and boroughs) and 2 census tracts. GEOID 17151.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
3,672
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 3,763 · ACS 2020-2024: 3,739
Median household income
$60,050
±$8,584 (90% margin)
Illinois: $83,390
Median home value
$143,800
±$30,554 (90% margin)
Illinois: $263,300
Median gross rent
$449
±$97 (90% margin)
Illinois: $1,274
How many people live in Pope County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 3,763 residents in Pope County. The Census Bureau estimates 3,672 for July 1, 2025, down 2.5% since 2020, a steeper fall than Illinois's (−0.8%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 3,739 over 369 square miles of land.
| Measure | Pope County | Illinois | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 3,739 | 12,694,798 | −464 |
| Households | 1,385±104 | 5,036,449 | −309 |
| Average household size | 2.59±0.20 | 2.46 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 2,225±92 | 5,457,452 | −581 |
Pope County's population since 2000
From 4,413 in 2000 to 3,672 in 2025: down 16.8%. 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.
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 Pope County?
Pope County holds 2 places: 2 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places). The largest is Golconda with 618 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Golconda | 630 | $41,875 |
|---|---|---|
| EddyvilleGEOID 1722398 | 99 | $28,864 |
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 Pope County?
The median resident of Pope County is 53.9 years old; 14.4% are under 18 and 29.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 88.7%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 4.8%. 0.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Pope County | Illinois | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.9±4.2 | 39.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 14.4%±2.7 pts | 21.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 29.0%±3.3 pts | 17.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.0%±1.1 pts | 18.8% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 88.7%±1.2 pts | 58.1% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 4.8%±1.6 pts | 13.3% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 5.9% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.7%±0.4 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.0 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.8%±1.9 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.0 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.9%±0.5 pts | 14.7% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 3.0%±1.3 pts | 24.0% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 10.7%±3.2 pts | 4.8% | – |
| With a disability | 24.1%±4.2 pts | 12.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.1%±1.4 pts | 6.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 92.6%±2.9 pts | 90.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 15.7%±3.4 pts | 37.8% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 4.4%±2.1 pts | 15.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 5.6%±4.1 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 Pope County earn?
Half of Pope County's 1,385 households earn less than $60,050 a year (±$8,584), against $83,390 in Illinois. In 2015-2019 the median was $46,835 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $13,215 after inflation. 13.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Pope County | Illinois | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $60,050±$8,584 | $83,390 | +$13,215 |
| Mean household income | $76,225±$7,586 | $115,638 | – |
| Per capita income | $31,967±$3,187 | $46,406 | +$4,812 |
| People below the poverty line | 13.3%±4.5 pts | 11.8% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 25.1%±12.2 pts | 15.1% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 9.1%±3.5 pts | 13.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 74.9%±6.7 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 Pope County?
Owners occupy 86.3% of Pope County's occupied homes and renters 13.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $143,800 by its owner (±$30,554). The median renter pays $449 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Pope County | Illinois | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $143,800±$30,554 | $263,300 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $449±$97 | $1,274 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 13.9%±10.1 pts | 39.0% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,394±$110 | $1,987 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 86.3%±3.7 pts | 67.1% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 2,225±92 | 5,457,452 | −581 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.6%±1.0 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 8.3%±8.4 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 77.4%±5.0 pts | 58.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 17.3%±4.4 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0%±1.7 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 17.4%±3.1 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 Pope County building?
Builders took permits for 1 new housing units across Pope County in 2025 (1 single-family), 0.3 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Pope County get to work?
80.7% of Pope County's workers drive alone and 10.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 29.3 minutes.
| Measure | Pope County | Illinois | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 42.5%±3.7 pts | 65.0% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.8%±2.1 pts | 5.8% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 80.7%±6.6 pts | 65.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.3%±4.5 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±2.8 pts | 5.8% | – |
| Walked | 0.2%±0.7 pts | 2.8% | – |
| Worked from home | 10.0%±5.0 pts | 15.9% | +5.7 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 29.3 min±4.0 | 27.8 min | −7.2 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 Pope County's census tracts?
Pope County is divided into 2 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $57,024 (Tract 9713) to $63,516 (Tract 9712).
| Tract 971217151971200 | 1,991±186 | $63,516 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 971317151971300 | 1,748±186 | $57,024 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Pope County compare with Illinois's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 101st of 102 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 59th of 102 |
| Residents per square mile | 102nd of 102 |
| Median household income | 84th of 102 |
| Median home value | 43rd of 102 |
| Median gross rent | 101st of 102 |
| Poverty rate | 44th of 102 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 92nd of 102 |
| Median age | 1st of 102 |
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 Pope 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.