Population 2,638 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Thomson
Household size in Thomson
| Period | Thomson | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.20 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.17 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.32 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.10 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.10 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
Households in Thomson are small: just 2.10 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.20, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
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 Thomson
| Period | Thomson | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.8 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 49.7 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.2 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.5 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.3 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 45.5, Thomson 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 Thomson
| Period | Thomson | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.6% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.6% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.9% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.0% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Thomson: 7.0% of households, against 11.6% 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 Thomson
Renters in Thomson
| Period | Thomson | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.7% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.6% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.9% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 20.4% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Thomson is largely a place of homeowners: only 20.4% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 47.2% have no mortgage at all, 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 Thomson
| Period | Thomson | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.0% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.4% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 18.9% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.2% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.8 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
A few more homes sit empty in Thomson than nationally: 12.2%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones.
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 Thomson
| Period | Thomson | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1967 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1965 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1967 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1970 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Thomson is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1970, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. That is in line with the rest of Illinois.
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 Thomson
| Period | Thomson | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $704 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $569 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $716 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $987 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$283 | +$475 | +$606 |
The median renter in Thomson pays $987 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 21.6% 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 Thomson
Bachelor's degrees in Thomson
| Period | Thomson | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.3% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.6% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 13.9% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.4% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Thomson: 10.4% 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 Thomson
| Period | Thomson | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.9% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.7% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 86.9% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 78.0% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | −11.9 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
More than one in five adults in Thomson never finished high school, well above the national share: only 78.0% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally.
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 Thomson
| Period | Thomson | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.7% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.6% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.3% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.4% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −6.4 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Thomson has been strong: just 2.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
Thomson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomson | 2.10 | 45.5 | 7.0% | 20.4% | 12.2% | 1970 | $987 | 10.4% | 78.0% | 2.4% |
| Wacker | 1.78 | 62.5 | 1.7% | 19.4% | 22.2% | 1980 | $1,294 | 12.4% | 85.0% | 3.5% |
| Hauntown | 3.13 | 32.9 | 15.3% | 19.4% | 10.1% | 1965 | $1,125 | 17.8% | 99.7% | 3.3% |
| Daggett | 2.10 | 45.3 | 9.0% | 16.4% | 15.0% | 1966 | $786 | 19.7% | 87.2% | 1.4% |
| Teeds Grove | 3.01 | 34.4 | 14.0% | 18.4% | 12.1% | 1962 | $1,058 | 17.8% | 98.8% | 3.7% |
| Sabula | 2.44 | 42.1 | 8.4% | 21.5% | 25.3% | 1951 | $988 | 8.5% | 95.6% | 3.2% |
| Center Hill | 1.81 | 60.8 | 2.8% | 19.1% | 21.8% | 1978 | $1,219 | 14.1% | 86.4% | 3.3% |
| Fair Haven | 2.23 | 43.2 | 8.2% | 17.0% | 9.8% | 1970 | $965 | 14.3% | 81.0% | 0.4% |
| Andover | 2.99 | 34.6 | 13.8% | 17.8% | 12.2% | 1962 | $1,030 | 18.5% | 98.6% | 4.0% |
| Savanna | 1.95 | 49.4 | 11.7% | 34.9% | 15.5% | 1949 | $890 | 14.1% | 87.5% | 2.8% |
| Lyons | 2.19 | 55.4 | 14.4% | 8.2% | 12.6% | 1971 | $705 | 32.0% | 98.1% | 1.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Bainbridge, PA · Graysville, AL · East Lansdowne, PA · Sterling, KS · Cordes Lakes, AZ · Congress, AZ · Collins, GA · Christopher, IL · Chenango Forks, NY · Blair, WI
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 Thomson. 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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