Population 19,751 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Douglas County
Household size in Douglas County
| Period | Douglas County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.64 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.65 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.60 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.61 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.03 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
Households in Douglas County average 2.61 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). Households are largest in the southwest and smallest in the center. Douglas County has larger households than at least four in five Illinois counties.
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 Douglas County
| Period | Douglas County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.7 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.4 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.0 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.5 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.9 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Douglas County are younger than 39.5 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has crept up from 38.7, in line with the national trend. The youngest areas are in the southwest, 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 Douglas County
| Period | Douglas County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.5% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.4% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.2% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.4% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Douglas County than nationally: 9.4%, against 11.6%. Compared with other Illinois counties, Douglas County has a lower share of single-parent households than most.
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 Douglas County
Renters in Douglas County
| Period | Douglas County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.7% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 23.6% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.0% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 23.1% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 23.1% of households in Douglas County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. More than four in ten owners (43.9%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the southwest 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 Douglas County
| Period | Douglas County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.5% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.5% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.6% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.6% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Douglas County is the same as the national rate: 9.6% of homes are empty. Vacancy has edged down 0.9 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Douglas County
| Period | Douglas County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1963 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1963 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1966 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1968 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Douglas County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1968, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1963 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the west, the oldest in the center.
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 Douglas County
| Period | Douglas County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $604 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $700 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $700 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $844 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$240 | +$475 | +$606 |
Rent in Douglas County runs $844 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $240 a month since 2006–10, up 40%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 26.4% of household income on rent, comfortably 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 center.
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 Douglas County
Bachelor's degrees in Douglas County
| Period | Douglas County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.8% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.9% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.6% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.6% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.8 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Douglas County: 20.6% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 5.8 points, mirroring the country.
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 Douglas County
| Period | Douglas County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 79.9% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 82.5% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 81.7% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 86.0% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.1 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in seven adults in Douglas County never finished high school, more than nationally: 86.0% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma is up 6.1 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only three of Illinois' 102 counties have a lower share of high school graduates.
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 Douglas County
| Period | Douglas County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.4% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.8% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.8% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.5% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Douglas County has been low: just 2.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Few Illinois counties have lower unemployment: only five of 102. Unemployment is down 2.9 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).
Douglas County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas County | 2.61 | 39.5 | 9.4% | 23.1% | 9.6% | 1968 | $844 | 20.6% | 86.0% | 2.5% |
| Moultrie County | 2.46 | 40.2 | 11.5% | 24.0% | 7.7% | 1970 | $810 | 19.5% | 83.9% | 2.2% |
| Edgar County | 2.18 | 47.0 | 9.3% | 27.3% | 9.2% | 1961 | $826 | 19.2% | 88.2% | 4.4% |
| Macon County | 2.35 | 41.6 | 11.1% | 29.8% | 12.2% | 1965 | $890 | 24.4% | 92.8% | 7.4% |
| Vermillion County | 2.36 | 44.0 | 9.1% | 24.8% | 10.7% | 1962 | $766 | 17.6% | 93.5% | 4.4% |
| Parke County | 2.54 | 44.0 | 11.1% | 17.6% | 21.0% | 1970 | $771 | 15.4% | 82.1% | 4.1% |
| Sangamon County | 2.34 | 41.8 | 10.8% | 28.7% | 9.6% | 1974 | $1,114 | 36.7% | 94.2% | 5.8% |
| Putnam County | 2.38 | 40.9 | 10.3% | 24.6% | 7.8% | 1978 | $977 | 20.6% | 92.8% | 3.1% |
| Hendricks County | 2.69 | 39.4 | 11.2% | 21.8% | 5.6% | 1996 | $1,445 | 39.9% | 93.1% | 2.6% |
| Morgan County | 2.39 | 43.1 | 10.5% | 27.2% | 13.8% | 1964 | $800 | 22.9% | 89.0% | 5.5% |
| Marion County | 2.53 | 35.9 | 14.4% | 43.5% | 9.9% | 1974 | $1,288 | 33.6% | 87.1% | 5.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Potter County, PA · Jackson County, IA · Jackson County, WI · Jefferson County, IA · Jefferson County, KS · Polk County, NC · Polk County, TN · Posey County, IN · Pottawatomie County, KS · Itawamba County, MS
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 Douglas County. 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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