Population 49,046 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Knox County
Household size in Knox County
| Period | Knox County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.20 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.26 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.22 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.17 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.03 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
Knox County is a place of small households, averaging 2.17 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 edged down from 2.20, in line with the national trend. Of Illinois' 102 counties, only five 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 Knox County
| Period | Knox County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.1 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.5 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.0 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.4 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.2 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
Knox County skews older than the country: its median age is 43.4, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 42.1 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. The youngest areas are in the center, the oldest in the northwest.
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 Knox County
| Period | Knox County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.8% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.5% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.4% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.8% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in ten households in Knox County (10.8%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 1.0 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 Knox County
Renters in Knox County
| Period | Knox County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.1% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 33.2% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.3% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 29.2% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Knox County own their homes; 29.2% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 54.4% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the northwest; owners are most common in the northeast. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 1.9 points, even as the national share rose.
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 Knox County
| Period | Knox County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.2% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.3% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.9% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.2% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs high in Knox County: 13.2% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy has edged up 1.0 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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 Knox County
| Period | Knox County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1957 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1956 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1958 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1960 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Knox County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1960, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the northeast has the oldest housing. Knox County has older homes than the great majority of Illinois counties.
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 Knox County
| Period | Knox County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $589 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $614 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $641 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $819 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$230 | +$475 | +$606 |
Rent in Knox County runs $819 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $230 a month since 2006–10, up 39%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 31.0% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the center; the most affordable are in the south.
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 Knox County
Bachelor's degrees in Knox County
| Period | Knox County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.6% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.8% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.1% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.1% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.5 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Knox County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 21.1%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is up 5.5 points from 2006–10, 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 Knox County
| Period | Knox County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.1% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.2% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.5% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.6% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.5 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Knox County have finished high school as nationally: 90.6%, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 5.5 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Knox County
| Period | Knox County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.2% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.5% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.7% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.8% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.3 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Knox County is close to the national rate: 4.8% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is lower than in Illinois as a whole (6.0%). Unemployment is down 3.3 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).
Knox 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knox County | 2.17 | 43.4 | 10.8% | 29.2% | 13.2% | 1960 | $819 | 21.1% | 90.6% | 4.8% |
| Warren County | 2.30 | 40.2 | 14.6% | 24.8% | 10.0% | 1955 | $784 | 22.6% | 87.1% | 3.7% |
| Stark County | 2.28 | 44.5 | 9.0% | 19.9% | 10.5% | 1952 | $765 | 21.4% | 92.8% | 2.3% |
| Henderson County | 2.32 | 48.8 | 8.9% | 18.9% | 18.4% | 1968 | $834 | 22.3% | 91.5% | 7.7% |
| Des Moines County | 2.25 | 41.8 | 12.2% | 25.4% | 9.8% | 1960 | $916 | 23.3% | 93.1% | 3.4% |
| Marshall County | 2.24 | 45.7 | 10.8% | 20.8% | 11.8% | 1959 | $791 | 17.7% | 91.5% | 4.0% |
| Henry County | 2.41 | 41.1 | 11.0% | 25.9% | 10.3% | 1967 | $817 | 23.1% | 91.5% | 1.8% |
| Jefferson County | 2.09 | 45.5 | 6.3% | 32.3% | 10.5% | 1964 | $879 | 43.5% | 95.4% | 8.2% |
| Livingston County | 2.30 | 41.6 | 12.4% | 25.7% | 8.5% | 1958 | $925 | 19.2% | 89.3% | 3.2% |
| Wapello County | 2.51 | 40.0 | 17.5% | 31.6% | 10.5% | 1957 | $950 | 18.6% | 87.3% | 4.7% |
| Monroe County | 2.39 | 42.8 | 9.1% | 18.7% | 13.5% | 1968 | $822 | 22.8% | 95.0% | 2.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Wyoming County, NY · Acadia Parish, LA · Windham County, VT · Winona County, MN · Wood County, TX · Beaufort County, NC · Baxter County, AR · Barron County, WI · Barren County, KY · Autauga County, AL
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 Knox 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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