Population 196 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Kernan
Household size in Kernan
| Period | Kernan | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.70 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.55 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.23 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.22 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.48 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
Kernan is a place of small households, averaging 2.22 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 2.70 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 Kernan
| Period | Kernan | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.7 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 49.0 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 49.8 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 56.5 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +15.8 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 56.5, Kernan is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees.
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 Kernan
| Period | Kernan | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.2% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.8% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 14.0% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +10.0 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in seven households in Kernan (14.0%), above the national share of 11.6%.
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 Kernan
Renters in Kernan
| Period | Kernan | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.6% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 20.8% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.0% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 8.0% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | −11.6 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Kernan is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 8.0% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Just over six in ten owners (62.3%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%.
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 Kernan
| Period | Kernan | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.7% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.8% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.9% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Kernan: 6.9% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. That is in line with the rest of Illinois.
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 Kernan
| Period | Kernan | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1959 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1957 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1960 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1959 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +0 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Kernan is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1959, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates.
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 Kernan
| Period | Kernan | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $398 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $613 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $705 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $847 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$449 | +$475 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Kernan costs $847 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 17.2% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Kernan
Bachelor's degrees in Kernan
| Period | Kernan | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.1% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.5% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.5% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.9% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.8 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Kernan have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 20.9%, against 35.6% nationally.
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 Kernan
| Period | Kernan | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.8% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.1% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.5% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 98.0% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.2 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Kernan: 98.0% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
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 Kernan
| Period | Kernan | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.4% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.6% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.7% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.6% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Kernan: 9.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. 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).
Kernan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kernan | 2.22 | 56.5 | 14.0% | 8.0% | 6.9% | 1959 | $847 | 20.9% | 98.0% | 9.6% |
| South Streator | 2.21 | 56.7 | 13.8% | 7.9% | 6.9% | 1959 | $855 | 20.8% | 97.7% | 9.3% |
| Streator | 2.22 | 40.4 | 14.5% | 30.6% | 10.7% | 1955 | $936 | 12.3% | 90.3% | 8.2% |
| Ransom | 2.38 | 50.7 | 12.4% | 9.4% | 5.6% | 1968 | $871 | 21.5% | 97.2% | 11.5% |
| Kangley | 2.01 | 57.6 | 6.1% | 3.5% | 8.7% | 1958 | $706 | 21.2% | 81.6% | 5.5% |
| Manville | 2.12 | 50.5 | 1.7% | 10.4% | 5.4% | 1958 | $1,268 | 15.3% | 82.9% | 0.2% |
| Reading | 2.12 | 50.5 | 1.7% | 10.4% | 5.4% | 1958 | $1,268 | 15.3% | 82.9% | 0.2% |
| Grand Ridge | 2.54 | 38.9 | 9.9% | 14.9% | 6.1% | 1962 | $991 | 16.5% | 93.1% | 5.5% |
| Blackstone | 2.15 | 49.6 | 2.2% | 10.7% | 5.2% | 1957 | $1,256 | 15.4% | 83.4% | 0.3% |
| Sunbury | 2.22 | 49.9 | 5.9% | 10.4% | 5.4% | 1956 | $1,135 | 16.8% | 87.8% | 2.7% |
| Ancona | 2.18 | 49.8 | 1.9% | 11.3% | 5.0% | 1955 | $1,244 | 18.4% | 85.0% | 0.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Big Springs, IN · Blundale, GA · Snyder, IL · Blue Mountain, AR · Stacy Basin, NY · South Center, IN · Birney Day School, MT · Spotted Horse, WY · Birds Run, OH · Bon Air Terrace, SC
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 Kernan. 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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