Population 16,731 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Centralia
Household size in Centralia
| Period | Centralia | St. Louis area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.28 | 2.52 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.28 | 2.53 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.25 | 2.49 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.34 | 2.46 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.06 | −0.06 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
Centralia is a place of small households, averaging 2.34 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.28, even as the national average fell. Centralia has smaller households than at least four in five Illinois cities.
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 Centralia
| Period | Centralia | St. Louis area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.2 | 38.5 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.6 | 39.5 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.8 | 40.7 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.8 | 40.8 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.4 | +2.3 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
At 39.8, the median age in Centralia is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 41.2, even as the national median rose. The youngest areas are in the center, the oldest in the east.
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 Centralia
| Period | Centralia | St. Louis area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.2% | 11.7% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 18.3% | 11.5% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 13.9% | 11.0% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.1% | 11.1% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit more common in Centralia than nationally: 13.1%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 1.1 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Centralia
Renters in Centralia
| Period | Centralia | St. Louis area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.5% | 28.3% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 31.0% | 30.1% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.6% | 31.1% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 30.9% | 29.6% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | +1.4 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Centralia own their homes; 30.9% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 59.7% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the east. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged up 1.4 points, mirroring the country.
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 Centralia
| Period | Centralia | St. Louis area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.1% | 9.6% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.1% | 10.1% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 14.3% | 10.1% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.9% | 8.8% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −0.8 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs high in Centralia: 12.9% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 1.2 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Centralia
| Period | Centralia | St. Louis area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1961 | 1972 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1965 | 1972 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1963 | 1973 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1966 | 1975 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +3 | +4 | +6 |
Centralia is a place of older homes: half were built before 1966, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1961 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the center has the oldest housing.
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 Centralia
| Period | Centralia | St. Louis area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $648 | $825 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $660 | $920 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $698 | $1,010 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $833 | $1,239 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$185 | +$414 | +$475 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Centralia costs $833 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $185 a month since 2006–10, up 29%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 28.3% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the west; the highest are in the northeast.
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 Centralia
Bachelor's degrees in Centralia
| Period | Centralia | St. Louis area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.5% | 30.3% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.2% | 32.1% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 13.7% | 34.9% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 17.1% | 38.5% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.5 pts | +8.3 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Centralia have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 17.1%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree has risen 3.5 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people, only 37 have a lower share of college graduates.
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 Centralia
| Period | Centralia | St. Louis area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 81.5% | 88.8% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.0% | 90.5% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 85.1% | 92.1% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 86.2% | 93.6% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.7 pts | +4.8 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in seven adults in Centralia never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 86.2% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 4.7 points, in line with the national trend. Centralia has a lower share of high school graduates than the great majority of Illinois cities.
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 Centralia
| Period | Centralia | St. Louis area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.8% | 7.7% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 14.0% | 8.8% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.8% | 4.9% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.2% | 4.3% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −3.4 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Centralia runs well above the national rate: 9.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Only 26 of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people have higher unemployment. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
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).
Centralia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centralia | 2.34 | 39.8 | 13.1% | 30.9% | 12.9% | 1966 | $833 | 17.1% | 86.2% | 9.2% |
| Central City | 2.07 | 35.4 | 15.1% | 30.4% | 14.8% | 1975 | $786 | 8.1% | 90.1% | 12.9% |
| Wamac | 2.24 | 50.0 | 12.8% | 29.6% | 10.0% | 1974 | $800 | 11.8% | 88.4% | 12.1% |
| Junction City | 2.53 | 41.4 | 25.3% | 18.6% | 9.3% | 1978 | $921 | 8.3% | 75.8% | 8.8% |
| Walnut Hill | 2.53 | 47.8 | 5.0% | 12.1% | 7.5% | 1986 | $790 | 25.2% | 94.3% | 5.7% |
| Hubbard Woods | 2.68 | 43.6 | 3.9% | 14.5% | 17.2% | 1986 | $804 | 25.6% | 95.1% | 2.0% |
| Sandoval | 2.23 | 44.4 | 16.9% | 23.1% | 19.5% | 1975 | $709 | 10.8% | 85.3% | 5.0% |
| Irvington | 2.35 | 36.8 | 18.9% | 15.1% | 2.9% | 1974 | $833 | 16.1% | 94.5% | 4.6% |
| Hoffman | 2.51 | 40.8 | 6.1% | 12.1% | 7.3% | 1975 | $872 | 22.2% | 87.5% | 3.5% |
| Odin | 2.32 | 46.7 | 14.3% | 23.9% | 11.4% | 1977 | $977 | 10.4% | 93.9% | 2.8% |
| Ferrin | 2.09 | 50.5 | 8.0% | 12.2% | 8.0% | 1977 | $974 | 17.1% | 96.4% | 1.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: DeSoto, MO · Cranberry Twp, PA · Creve Coeur, MO · Crowley, LA · Cudahy, WI · Cumberland, RI · Theodore, AL · Dandridge, TN · Delmar, NY · Denville, NJ
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 Centralia. 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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