Cairo

Population: 1,699
Median household income: $35,493
Median home value: $28,200

Cairo is a community in Alexander County, Illinois, home to 1,699 residents. The median household income of $35,493 is below the Alexander County median ($43,523).

From 2019 to 2023, Cairo's population declined 19.9% from 2,120 to 1,699, while its median home value was little changed from $28,200 to $28,200.

10.9% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Owners occupy 64.9% of the area's occupied homes.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 1,699
Median age: 43.2 yrs
Median household income: $35,493
Median home value: $28,200
Median gross rent: $282
Housing units: 1,173
Homeownership rate: 64.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 10.9%
Unemployment rate: 17.5%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

2,1201,699

Median household income

$26,439$35,493

Median home value

$28,200$28,200

Median gross rent

$425$282

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	2,120	$26,439	$28,200	$425
2020	1,884	$27,661	$29,400	$652
2021	1,694	$29,375	$30,400	$450
2022	1,510	$31,429	$33,100	—
2023	1,699	$35,493	$28,200	$282

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 54.9%

5 to 1719.4%

18 to 247.5%

25 to 347.7%

35 to 4412.9%

45 to 548.9%

55 to 6417.4%

65 to 7413.3%

75 and over7.9%

	Count	Share
Under 5	84	4.9%
5 to 17	329	19.4%
18 to 24	128	7.5%
25 to 34	131	7.7%
35 to 44	219	12.9%
45 to 54	152	8.9%
55 to 64	296	17.4%
65 to 74	226	13.3%
75 and over	134	7.9%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	457	26.9%
Black or African American	1,146	67.5%
American Indian & Alaska Native	0	0.0%
Asian	0	0.0%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Some other race	0	0.0%
Two or more races	95	5.6%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1	0.1%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma18.9%

High school graduate36.3%

Some college or associate's33.9%

Bachelor's degree4.6%

Graduate or professional degree6.3%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	219	18.9%
High school graduate	420	36.3%
Some college or associate's	393	33.9%
Bachelor's degree	53	4.6%
Graduate or professional degree	73	6.3%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 36 min

Drove alone90.3%

Carpooled6.6%

Public transit0.0%

Walked1.0%

Bicycle0.0%

Worked from home2.1%

Other means0.0%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	464	90.3%
Carpooled	34	6.6%
Public transit	0	0.0%
Walked	5	1.0%
Bicycle	0	0.0%
Worked from home	11	2.1%
Other means	0	0.0%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	214	42.5%
15 to 29 min	53	10.5%
30 to 44 min	75	14.9%
45 to 59 min	40	8.0%
60+ min	121	24.1%

Households

Average household size: 2.64
Poverty rate: 21.5% (352 of 1,638)

	Count	Share
Family households	261	42.6%
Nonfamily households	352	57.4%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1949

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	613	52.3%
Vacant	560	47.7%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	398	64.9%
Renter-occupied	215	35.1%

1-unit, detached75.8%

1-unit, attached0.3%

2 to 4 units4.7%

5 to 19 units6.3%

20 or more units12.9%

Mobile home & other0.0%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	889	75.8%
1-unit, attached	4	0.3%
2 to 4 units	55	4.7%
5 to 19 units	74	6.3%
20 or more units	151	12.9%
Mobile home & other	0	0.0%

Geography

Place GEOID: 1710383
Type (LSAD): 25
Land area: 6.99 sq mi
Water area: 2.12 sq mi
Center point: 37.0063, -89.1829