Pekin: Demographics & People
31,781 people call Pekin home, in 13,503 households. Population shrank 0.1% from 31,812 (2022) to 31,781 (2024). Median age 41.9 years. (4.2y older than Illinois). Children under 18 are 19% of the population. Population is 89% White (non-Hispanic) and 4% Black. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.14). 52% of households are family-led. County is losing 1,699 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 36% adult obesity, 16% smoke.
- 2.4 people per household (vs Illinois avg 2.5).
- 48% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Illinois 38%).
- 63 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Illinois 64).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 0.1% from 31,812 (2022) to 31,781 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~31,749 (extrapolated at -0.1%/yr trend).
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 181,830 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -0.1% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 31,812 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 31,781 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 31,781 people (vs Illinois 39,460) |
| Population Estimate | 31,706 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 41.9y is 3.0 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 19% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 41.9 years (vs Illinois 37.7y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 19.4% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 31,781 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 6,176 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 7,077.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 12,370.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 6,158 |
| Population under 18 | 6,176 |
| Median age | 41.9 years (vs Illinois 37.7y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 31,781 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.14 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 29,103 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 1,180 |
| Asian residents | 196 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 879 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 13.6% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 92.8% |
| Asian population | 0.7% (vs Illinois 6.1%) |
| Black population | 3.5% (vs Illinois 9.3%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 3.1% (vs Illinois 17.6%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 88.8% (vs Illinois 54.8%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 0.3% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 2% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 26,082 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 5,089 |
| Share born in this state | 82.1% |
| Share born in another state | 17.9% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 16.0% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.3% |
| Naturalized citizens | 1.6% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 534 |
| From Europe | 150 |
| From Africa | 141 |
Households & Family Composition
13,503 households. Averaging 2.2 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 52% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 7,119 families, 23% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 6,456 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 7,119 |
| Married couples with children | 1,644 |
| Single-parent households | 502 |
| Average household size | 2.22 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 17.9% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 341 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 206 |
| Family households | 7,006 households (vs Illinois 9,709) |
| Households that are families | 51.9% (vs Illinois 62.4%) |
| Total households | 13,503 households (vs Illinois 14,867) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 13.7% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 1,699 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 13.7% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 162,290 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 163,989 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -1,699 |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 2,049 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 6.7% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 1,921 residents live in group quarters (6.0% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 1,921 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 17 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 17143 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 17 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 143 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Peoria |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 29.2% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 27.00 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 31.60 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 17143 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Peoria County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Medium metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 11,724 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 17143 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Peoria County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 68.9% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 63.5% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 58.2% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 179,179 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 15 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 4 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 5 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 19.4% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 31,781, stable, established, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 31,781 people (vs Illinois 39,460) |
| Town Summary · County | Peoria County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade