Population 28,399 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Carbondale
Household size in Carbondale
| Period | Carbondale | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.24 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.37 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.20 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.04 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.19 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
Carbondale is a place of small households, averaging 2.04 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 2.24 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only seven of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people have smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Carbondale
| Period | Carbondale | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.4 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 31.0 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 33.3 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 35.7 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +6.3 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 35.7, Carbondale is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 29.4, mirroring the country. Only 28 of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people are younger.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Carbondale
| Period | Carbondale | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.2% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.5% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.2% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.7% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Carbondale than nationally: 9.7%, against 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 0.5 points, in line with the national trend.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Carbondale
Renters in Carbondale
| Period | Carbondale | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 60.8% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 64.5% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 62.8% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 64.2% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.4 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Carbondale rent: 64.2% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. About half of owners (49.6%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 3.4 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Carbondale
| Period | Carbondale | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.7% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.5% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 19.3% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.6% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.1 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Carbondale: 16.6% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 2.1 points, as it has nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Carbondale
| Period | Carbondale | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1974 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1978 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1979 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1979 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Carbondale are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1979, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are newer than in Illinois overall, where the median home dates to 1970. The median year built has moved up from 1974 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the north.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Carbondale
| Period | Carbondale | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $629 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $714 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $739 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $843 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$214 | +$475 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Carbondale costs $843 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $214 a month since 2006–10, up 34%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 32.2% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the center; the highest are in the northwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Carbondale
Bachelor's degrees in Carbondale
| Period | Carbondale | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 47.5% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 43.9% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 44.7% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 47.3% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
Carbondale is highly educated: nearly half of adults 25 and older (47.3%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the north.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Carbondale
| Period | Carbondale | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.3% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.8% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.9% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.9% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Carbondale: 94.9% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 1.6 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Carbondale
| Period | Carbondale | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.3% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.9% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.1% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.9% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Carbondale runs well above the national rate: 7.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Only 38 of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people have higher unemployment. Unemployment is down 2.4 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Carbondale compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbondale | 2.04 | 35.7 | 9.7% | 64.2% | 16.6% | 1979 | $843 | 47.3% | 94.9% | 7.9% |
| Crab Orchard Estates | 2.14 | 42.9 | 5.4% | 37.2% | 6.0% | 1996 | $1,044 | 49.5% | 97.2% | 2.9% |
| Makanda | 2.45 | 45.1 | 3.7% | 23.9% | 7.5% | 1979 | $887 | 55.3% | 97.0% | 2.2% |
| Reeds Station | 2.46 | 36.1 | 6.5% | 32.8% | 15.4% | 1998 | $717 | 50.6% | 96.2% | 2.7% |
| Mount Carbon | 2.44 | 43.0 | 11.8% | 21.5% | 17.0% | 1980 | $763 | 25.3% | 90.8% | 12.4% |
| DeSoto | 2.26 | 39.7 | 14.3% | 42.1% | 12.8% | 1985 | $854 | 28.2% | 93.0% | 5.6% |
| Cambria | 2.09 | 42.4 | 9.7% | 42.7% | 8.5% | 1993 | $963 | 35.7% | 93.8% | 5.4% |
| Murphysboro | 2.19 | 41.8 | 12.5% | 39.7% | 16.1% | 1968 | $787 | 27.1% | 91.6% | 6.7% |
| Carterville | 2.45 | 38.3 | 10.9% | 39.6% | 9.5% | 1993 | $985 | 36.5% | 95.0% | 6.0% |
| Crainville | 2.17 | 42.3 | 6.9% | 30.8% | 3.8% | 1993 | $670 | 43.0% | 97.0% | 2.3% |
| Hurst | 2.19 | 45.0 | 14.9% | 35.9% | 8.8% | 1968 | $408 | 14.5% | 84.9% | 3.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Vestal, NY · Clover, SC · Corbin, KY · Eldersburg, MD · Highland Park, IL · Hillsborough, NC · Johnston, RI · Norco, CA · Oxford, OH · Rockville Centre, NY
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Carbondale. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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