County · Illinois

Saline County, Illinois

Saline County, Illinois. Saline County had 22,772 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 4.4% since 2020, a steeper fall than Illinois's (−0.8%). It holds 20 places (7 cities, villages and boroughs and 13 towns and townships) and 9 census tracts. GEOID 17165.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

22,772

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 23,768 · ACS 2020-2024: 23,213

Median household income

$53,117

±$2,764 (90% margin)
Illinois: $83,390

Median home value

$94,300

±$6,813 (90% margin)
Illinois: $263,300

Median gross rent

$726

±$60 (90% margin)
Illinois: $1,274

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

The 2020 Census counted 23,768 residents in Saline County. The Census Bureau estimates 22,772 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 23,213 over 380 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −362 (23,379)
2021→2022 −231 (23,148)
2022→2023 −168 (22,980)
2023→2024 −150 (22,830)
2024→2025 −58 (22,772)

Saline County in Illinois. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Saline County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	23,213	12,694,798	−781
Households	10,024±232	5,036,449	no clear change
Average household size	2.26±0.05	2.46	−0.10
Housing units	11,547±42	5,457,452	−165

Saline County's population since 2000

From 26,733 in 2000 to 22,772 in 2025: down 14.8%. 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 26,733
2005 (estimate) 25,526
2010 Census 24,913
2015 (estimate) 24,495
2020 Census 23,768
2025 (estimate) 22,772

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 Saline County?

Saline County holds 20 places: 7 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 13 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government). The largest is Harrisburg Township with 9,656 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 Saline County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Harrisburg Township	township	10,037	9,838±34	$46,474	$88,300	25.9%	100%
Harrisburg	city	8,219	8,372±314	$43,415	$84,100	29.0%	100%
East Eldorado Township	township	5,431	5,289±17	$51,125	$88,200	19.0%	100%
Eldorado	city	3,743	3,771±247	$37,154	$66,200	22.4%	100%
Carrier Mills Township	township	2,308	2,507±390	$53,189	$81,300	20.3%	100%
Carrier Mills	village	1,672	1,634±289	$50,729	$60,100	25.4%	100%
Independence TownshipGEOID 1716537205	township	1,182	1,050±388	$79,375	$168,500	1.8%	100%
Galatia Township	township	1,106	1,163±335	$47,538	$76,000	5.7%	100%
Raleigh Township	township	1,083	1,077±227	$90,515	$165,600	13.0%	100%
Brushy TownshipGEOID 1716509122	township	972	1,024±277	$76,131	$161,600	2.2%	100%
Galatia	village	827	913±315	$48,258	$70,200	7.3%	100%
Mountain TownshipGEOID 1716550803	township	395	262±145	$112,841	$308,300	0.0%	100%
Stonefort TownshipGEOID 1716572897	township	373	370±179	$68,750	$114,700	17.0%	100%
Raleigh	village	284	235±88	$49,167	$80,000	17.4%	100%
Tate TownshipGEOID 1716574509	township	282	208±103	$65,625	$126,900	14.9%	100%
Long Branch TownshipGEOID 1716544485	township	275	244±111	not published	$254,500	11.1%	100%
Cottage TownshipGEOID 1716516535	township	253	133±119	not published	$113,400	0.0%	100%
Stonefort	village	224	422±181	$56,477	$65,700	11.6%	47%
Rector TownshipGEOID 1716563030	township	71	48±69	not published	not published	0.0%	100%
MuddyGEOID 1751271	village	61	67±42	not published	not published	29.0%	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 Saline County?

The median resident of Saline County is 43.8 years old; 20.7% are under 18 and 21.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 91.3%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 3.1%. 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	Saline County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	43.8±1.4	39.0	+1.6
Under 18 years	20.7%±0.1 pts	21.8%	–
65 years and over	21.5%±0.3 pts	17.0%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	2.2%	18.8%	+0.4 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	91.3%±0.2 pts	58.1%	no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	3.1%±0.7 pts	13.3%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.5%±0.2 pts	5.9%	no clear change
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%±0.2 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	2.6%±0.7 pts	3.4%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.4%	–
Born outside the United States	0.9%±0.4 pts	14.7%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	2.0%±0.9 pts	24.0%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	8.0%±1.4 pts	4.8%	–
With a disability	23.9%±1.7 pts	12.1%	–
No health insurance coverage	5.4%±1.3 pts	6.9%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	89.7%±2.0 pts	90.5%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	19.6%±2.1 pts	37.8%	no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	5.7%±1.0 pts	15.3%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	0.9%±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 Saline County earn?

Half of Saline County's 10,024 households earn less than $53,117 a year (±$2,764), against $83,390 in Illinois. In 2015-2019 it was $54,261 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 18.9% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Saline County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$53,117±$2,764	$83,390	no clear change
Mean household income	$83,124±$7,124	$115,638	–
Per capita income	$36,683±$2,877	$46,406	+$5,495
People below the poverty line	18.9%±2.2 pts	11.8%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	21.7%±4.6 pts	15.1%	−7.5 pts
Households receiving SNAP	26.2%±2.8 pts	13.8%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	76.5%±2.8 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 Saline County?

Owners occupy 72.5% of Saline County's occupied homes and renters 27.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $94,300 by its owner (±$6,813). The median renter pays $726 a month including utilities, and 45.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Saline County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$94,300±$6,813	$263,300	no clear change
Median gross rent	$726±$60	$1,274	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	45.4%±8.9 pts	39.0%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,165±$67	$1,987	–
Owner-occupied homes	72.5%±3.3 pts	67.1%	no clear change
Housing units	11,547±42	5,457,452	−165
Homeowner vacancy rate	1.8%±0.9 pts	1.0%	–
Rental vacancy rate	2.8%±2.9 pts	5.0%	–
Single-family detached homes	74.2%±2.6 pts	58.2%	–
Mobile homes	11.6%±1.9 pts	2.3%	–
Built 2020 or later	1.0%±0.9 pts	0.7%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	15.4%±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 Saline County building?

Builders took permits for 0 new housing units across Saline County in 2025 (0 single-family), 0.0 per 1,000 residents.

2019 0 units
2020 0 units
2021 0 units
2022 0 units
2023 0 units
2024 0 units
2025 0 units

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

How do people in Saline County get to work?

84.7% of Saline County's workers drive alone and 4.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.7%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Saline County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	54.6%±2.2 pts	65.0%	–
Unemployment rate	7.7%±2.2 pts	5.8%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	84.7%±2.2 pts	65.9%	–
Carpooled	7.9%±1.6 pts	7.8%	–
Public transportation	0.3%±0.4 pts	5.8%	–
Walked	1.7%±0.9 pts	2.8%	–
Worked from home	4.2%±1.7 pts	15.9%	no clear change
Mean travel time to work	23.1 min±1.7	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 Saline County's census tracts?

Saline County is divided into 9 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $37,591 (Tract 9560) to $77,396 (Tract 9556).

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

Tract 955117165955100	Eldorado (81%)	2,143	2,301±274	$37,917	$82,000	$752	24.2%
Tract 955517165955500	Eldorado (91%)	2,199	2,010±242	$52,664	$79,000	$377	17.2%
Tract 955617165955600	Raleigh (8%)	2,489	2,326±231	$77,396	$150,600	$1,296	11.7%
Tract 955717165955700	Galatia (18%)	2,663	2,591±347	$61,310	$115,200	$879	5.7%
Tract 955817165955800	Harrisburg (94%)	3,022	3,250±371	$52,391	$92,700	$742	13.7%
Tract 955917165955900	Harrisburg (88%)	2,344	2,709±386	$39,816	$67,300	$817	38.2%
Tract 956017165956000	Harrisburg (88%)	2,730	2,443±289	$37,591	$99,000	$654	37.3%
Tract 956117165956100	Carrier Mills (58%)	2,622	2,310±256	$54,044	$70,700	$475	20.7%
Tract 956217165956200	Stonefort (6%)	3,556	3,273±340	$72,226	$121,000	$735	7.2%

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

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

Saline County's rank among Illinois's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	52nd of 102
Growth 2020-2025	88th of 102
Residents per square mile	39th of 102
Median household income	98th of 102
Median home value	98th of 102
Median gross rent	86th of 102
Poverty rate	7th of 102
Bachelor's degree or higher	64th of 102
Median age	31st 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 Saline 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.