Cowden

Population: 547
Median household income: $42,083
Median home value: $76,200

Cowden, a community in Shelby County, Illinois, has 547 residents. The median household income of $42,083 is below the Shelby County median ($68,457).

Between 2019 and 2023, Cowden's population grew 4.2% from 525 to 547, while its median home value rose 21.5% from $62,700 to $76,200.

The largest age group is 5 to 17, 25.4% of residents. White (non-Hispanic) residents are the largest group, 94.1% of the population.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 547
Median age: 27.3 yrs
Median household income: $42,083
Median home value: $76,200
Median gross rent: $767
Housing units: 237
Homeownership rate: 55.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 13.8%
Unemployment rate: 5.3%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

525547

Median household income

$36,250$42,083

Median home value

$62,700$76,200

Median gross rent

$764$767

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	525	$36,250	$62,700	$764
2020	538	$33,250	$64,500	—
2021	492	$40,278	$65,000	$669
2022	492	$43,750	$72,700	$703
2023	547	$42,083	$76,200	$767

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

Age distribution

Under 515.2%

5 to 1725.4%

18 to 247.7%

25 to 3414.4%

35 to 449.0%

45 to 546.2%

55 to 648.0%

65 to 745.9%

75 and over8.2%

	Count	Share
Under 5	83	15.2%
5 to 17	139	25.4%
18 to 24	42	7.7%
25 to 34	79	14.4%
35 to 44	49	9.0%
45 to 54	34	6.2%
55 to 64	44	8.0%
65 to 74	32	5.9%
75 and over	45	8.2%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	515	94.1%
Black or African American	3	0.5%
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	7	1.3%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	22	4.0%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma7.4%

High school graduate44.9%

Some college or associate's33.9%

Bachelor's degree9.9%

Graduate or professional degree3.9%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	21	7.4%
High school graduate	127	44.9%
Some college or associate's	96	33.9%
Bachelor's degree	28	9.9%
Graduate or professional degree	11	3.9%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 26 min

Drove alone90.1%

Carpooled5.6%

Public transit0.0%

Walked0.0%

Bicycle0.0%

Worked from home4.3%

Other means0.0%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	146	90.1%
Carpooled	9	5.6%
Public transit	0	0.0%
Walked	0	0.0%
Bicycle	0	0.0%
Worked from home	7	4.3%
Other means	0	0.0%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	26	16.8%
15 to 29 min	50	32.3%
30 to 44 min	66	42.6%
45 to 59 min	3	1.9%
60+ min	10	6.5%

Households

Average household size: 2.58
Poverty rate: 27.2% (149 of 547)

	Count	Share
Family households	148	69.8%
Nonfamily households	64	30.2%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1972

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	212	89.5%
Vacant	25	10.5%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	118	55.7%
Renter-occupied	94	44.3%

1-unit, detached64.1%

1-unit, attached0.0%

2 to 4 units11.4%

5 to 19 units5.1%

20 or more units0.0%

Mobile home & other19.4%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	152	64.1%
1-unit, attached	0	0.0%
2 to 4 units	27	11.4%
5 to 19 units	12	5.1%
20 or more units	0	0.0%
Mobile home & other	46	19.4%

Geography

Place GEOID: 1717055
Type (LSAD): 47
Land area: 0.4 sq mi
Water area: 0 sq mi
Center point: 39.2492, -88.8594