Population 154 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Steel City
Household size in Steel City
| Period | Steel City | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.37 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.40 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.23 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.51 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.13 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
Households in Steel City run a little small, averaging 2.51 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. That is in line with the rest of Illinois. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.37, 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 Steel City
| Period | Steel City | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.3 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 50.8 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.8 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.5 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | −4.8 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
At 39.5, the median age in Steel City is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's.
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 Steel City
| Period | Steel City | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.4% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 4.5% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.2% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.2 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Steel City than nationally: 9.2%, against 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 Steel City
Renters in Steel City
| Period | Steel City | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.9% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.7% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.5% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 18.3% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | −8.6 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Steel City is largely a place of homeowners: only 18.3% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 53.8% have no mortgage at all, 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 Steel City
| Period | Steel City | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.4% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.5% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.9% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.6% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +11.2 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Steel City: 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.
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 Steel City
| Period | Steel City | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1989 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1983 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1988 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1991 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +4 | +6 |
Steel City has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1991, versus 1980 nationally.
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 Steel City
| Period | Steel City | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $494 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $724 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $732 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $840 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$346 | +$475 | +$606 |
Rent in Steel City runs $840 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 28.7% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 Steel City
Bachelor's degrees in Steel City
| Period | Steel City | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.7% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.7% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.2% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.9% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Steel City: 21.9% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%.
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 Steel City
| Period | Steel City | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.1% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.2% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.8% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 87.0% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in eight adults in Steel City never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 87.0% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S.
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 Steel City
| Period | Steel City | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.7% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.3% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.8% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Steel City is close to the national rate: 4.9% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is lower than in Illinois overall (6.0%). 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).
Steel City 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steel City | 2.51 | 39.5 | 9.2% | 18.3% | 16.6% | 1991 | $840 | 21.9% | 87.0% | 4.9% |
| Benton | 2.24 | 44.1 | 15.4% | 31.9% | 12.9% | 1966 | $830 | 18.3% | 88.6% | 4.8% |
| Logan | 2.36 | 45.5 | 7.8% | 18.6% | 8.5% | 1981 | $818 | 12.9% | 87.9% | 6.8% |
| West City | 2.32 | 40.9 | 16.8% | 27.6% | 4.8% | 1950 | $821 | 8.2% | 88.4% | 7.6% |
| Hanaford | 2.45 | 44.3 | 10.6% | 21.0% | 8.3% | 1982 | $686 | 11.8% | 85.3% | 6.3% |
| Whittington | 2.50 | 41.2 | 8.5% | 23.0% | 15.5% | 1981 | $768 | 19.1% | 86.8% | 2.9% |
| Ewing | 2.60 | 38.0 | 12.6% | 13.9% | 8.8% | 1981 | $800 | 17.2% | 87.6% | 2.0% |
| Parrish | 2.41 | 44.4 | 9.6% | 19.6% | 7.5% | 1981 | $750 | 12.2% | 88.0% | 5.9% |
| Akin | 2.09 | 45.4 | 3.8% | 19.9% | 10.1% | 1979 | $1,094 | 18.9% | 91.1% | 5.9% |
| Rend City | 2.70 | 30.2 | 15.4% | 16.1% | 18.2% | 1970 | $1,144 | 12.4% | 92.6% | 3.2% |
| Buckner | 2.31 | 45.8 | 3.4% | 17.3% | 19.2% | 1952 | $1,073 | 12.0% | 91.2% | 7.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Ruraldale, OH · Lowake, TX · Lydesdale, AR · Mack Creek Village, VA · Manasota Key, FL · Rosette, UT · Rowden, TX · Roystone, PA · Ruby, AK · Ruby, MT
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 Steel City. 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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