Douglas County, Illinois Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Douglas County, Illinois, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in Douglas County, Illinois. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Douglas County, Illinois. The estimated population of Douglas County, Illinois is 19,708 people, with a median age of 38.4.

We can look at the total population in Douglas County over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
19,708
+0.8%
-0.62%
2020
19,551
 -0.37% -
2019
19,623
 -0.46% -
2018
19,714
 -0.58% -
2017
19,830
 - -

Population of Douglas County, Illinois by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
89.3%
90.5%
 -1.33%
Black/African American
0.8%
0.3%
 +166.67%
Native
0.2%
0.3%
 -33.33%
Hispanic
7.4%
7.2%
 +2.78%
Asian
0.5%
0.7%
 -28.57%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0.1%
0.1%
 0.00%
Two Or More Races
1.6%
0.7%
 +128.57%
Other
0.1%
0.2%
 -50.00%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of Douglas County, Illinois by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 38.4 +0.52% 37.4 +2.19% 39.3 -0.76%
2020 38.2 +1.06% 36.6 -1.08% 39.6 +2.33%
2019 37.8 -0.26% 37 -0.54% 38.7 -1.28%
2018 37.9 0% 37.2 -0.53% 39.2 +1.29%
2017 37.9 - 37.4 - 38.7 -

The median age of Douglas County, Illinois gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 1,268 -9.29% 1,305 -1.13% 1,152 1,285
10 to 19 1,521 +0.24% 1,362 +6.91% 1,524 1,458
20 to 29 1,188 +2.35% 1,173 -9.53% 1,216 1,065
30 to 39 1,299 +5.89% 1,276 -1.32% 1,375 1,259
40 to 49 1,058 -4.73% 1,059 -0.16% 1,007 1,057
50 to 59 1,409 -7.74% 1,338 -15.45% 1,302 1,139
60 to 69 1,035 +10.18% 1,117 +10.15% 1,142 1,227
70+ 1,002 +5.66% 1,420 +1.77% 1,059 1,441

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Douglas County, Illinois is $63,142.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for Douglas County.

  • Under 25
    $33,750.00
  • 25 to 44
    $70,929.00
  • 45 to 64
    $77,396.00
  • 65 and over
    $47,298.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in Douglas County, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Douglas County, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of Douglas County, Illinois is currently $76,171.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

4.28% of households in Douglas County are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of Douglas County against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    19.70%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    19.34%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    19.25%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    13.90%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    19.09%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    4.44%
  • $200,000 or more
    4.28%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Douglas County is $29,625.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of Douglas County by the total population of Douglas County.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Douglas County, Illinois, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Douglas County to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    7.38%
  • Bachelor's degree
    24.02%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    14.45%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    52.13%
  • Less than high school diploma
    2.02%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in Douglas County that are over the age of 16.

The total population of Douglas County over the age of 16 is 15,430.

Of those people, a total of 64.80% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in Douglas County is 62.70%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 1,141 66.60% 10.00%
20 to 24 years 1,147 81.30% 4.30%
25 to 29 years 1,134 81.50% 2.40%
30 to 34 years 1,261 79.90% 3.90%
35 to 44 years 2,357 84.40% 2.20%
45 to 54 years 2,200 82.70% 3.10%
55 to 59 years 1,321 81.60% 0.60%
60 to 64 years 1,301 63.40% 4.50%
65 to 74 years 1,981 27.80% 0.70%
75 years and over 1,587 7.20% 0.00%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Douglas County. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 14,553 64.40% 3.20%
Black or African American 129 20.90% 63.00%
American Indian and Alaska Native 65 92.30% 0.00%
Asian 90 74.40% 0.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 15 40.00% 0.00%
Other 101 75.20% 0.00%
Two or more races 477 83.60% 2.00%
Hispanic or Latino 1,010 83.00% 5.00%
Not Hispanic or Latino 13,929 63.60% 2.90%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Douglas County as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Douglas County is 9,677, with median earnings of $36,162.00.

Women in Douglas County, Illinois earning approximately 60.40% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 9,677 $36,162.00
Male 5,507 $45,613.00
Female 4,170 $27,551.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 750 $55,068.00
Business and Financial 269 $46,169.00
Computer and Mathematical 84 $65,870.00
Architecture and Engineering 192 $54,962.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 44 $62,000.00
Community and Social Service 138 $29,239.00
Legal 45 $41,442.00
Educational and Library 589 $42,756.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 84 $33,750.00
Healthcare Practitioners 444 $52,963.00
Healthcare Support 137 $19,250.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 24 $8,409.00
Law Enforcement 73 $59,583.00
Food Preparation and Serving 587 $12,973.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 397 $16,635.00
Personal Care and Service 185 $17,188.00
Sales 961 $33,626.00
Office and Administrative Support 1,199 $30,940.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 200 $49,000.00
Construction and Extraction 579 $48,938.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 425 $52,096.00
Production 1,304 $38,643.00
Transportation and Material Moving 361 $28,822.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 544 $56,250.00 206 $54,615.00
Business and Financial 103 $93,750.00 166 $34,808.00
Computer and Mathematical 53 $62,917.00 31 $66,141.00
Architecture and Engineering 185 $54,981.00 7 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 18 $62,000.00 26 $67,500.00
Community and Social Service 53 $64,402.00 85 $14,596.00
Legal 37 $41,492.00 8 $0.00
Educational and Library 78 $43,370.00 511 $42,521.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 42 $43,500.00 42 $13,571.00
Healthcare Practitioners 49 $108,594.00 395 $50,125.00
Healthcare Support 12 $40,357.00 125 $16,719.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 15 $8,295.00 9 $0.00
Law Enforcement 71 $58,750.00 2 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 235 $13,528.00 352 $9,000.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 203 $38,150.00 194 $9,467.00
Personal Care and Service 3 $0.00 182 $17,000.00
Sales 426 $61,204.00 535 $29,688.00
Office and Administrative Support 283 $50,478.00 916 $28,042.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 194 $49,750.00 6 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 573 $49,313.00 6 $0.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 425 $52,096.00 0 $0.00
Production 1,063 $43,071.00 241 $29,899.00
Transportation and Material Moving 333 $29,207.00 28 $14,375.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 7,585 households in Douglas County, with an average household size of 2.58 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 5,243 families in Douglas County with an average family size of 3.09 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 4,259 429 555 2,342
Average Household Size 3.2 3.45 3.07 1.16
Total Families 4,259 429 555 0
Average Household Size 3.18 2.46 2.91 0

Poverty

Of the 5,243 families in Douglas County, 9.30% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Douglas County:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 8,463 housing units in Douglas County, Illinois.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 7,585 89.63%
Vacant 878 10.37%

18.70% of the total 8,463 housing units in Douglas County are rental units. This is approximately 1,583 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 5,839 are occupied by the owner - or 68.99% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Douglas County is $718.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Douglas County that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    163
  • Less than $500
    158
  • $500 to $999
    1,166
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    241
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    10
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    0
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    0
  • $3,000 or more
    8

Property Value

The median value of a property in Douglas County is $119,800.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in Douglas County that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    574
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    1,676
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    1,376
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    867
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    860
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    455
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    18
  • $1,000,000 or more
    13

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in Douglas County. The chart below shows the number of properties in Douglas County that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    1,846
  • 1940 to 1949
    365
  • 1950 to 1959
    1,084
  • 1960 to 1969
    902
  • 1970 to 1979
    1,382
  • 1980 to 1989
    685
  • 1990 to 1999
    906
  • 2000 to 2009
    678
  • 2010 to 2013
    559
  • 2014 or later
    56

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in Douglas County that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    866
  • 1 vehicle available
    1,917
  • 2 vehicles available
    2,872
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    1,930

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in Douglas County get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in Douglas County that commute to work in a particular way.

20.3 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Douglas County.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    1,228
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    1,702
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    1,183
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    747
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    757
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    388
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    1,474
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    336
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    258
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    606
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    213
  • 90 or more minutes
    103

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Douglas County, Illinois in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

Places in Douglas County, Illinois

We have data for 13 places in Douglas County, Illinois. Click on a place below to see more information about the demographics of that place.