Wamac: Demographics & People
Census counts 804 people in Wamac, in 372 households. Population grew 1.3% from 794 (2022) to 804 (2024). Median age 46.7 years. (2.5y older than Washington County; 9.0y older than Illinois). Children under 18 are 23% of the population. Population is 93% White (non-Hispanic) and 1% Hispanic or Latino. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.08). 50% of households are family-led. County is losing 451 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 35% adult obesity, 16% smoke.
- 2.2 people per household (vs Illinois avg 2.5).
- 50% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Illinois 38%).
- 58 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Illinois 64).
Population & Trend
Population grew 1.3% from 794 (2022) to 804 (2024) — about 2.1× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~814 (extrapolated at 0.6%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 827.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 36,899 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 1.3% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 794 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 804 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | growing |
| Population | 804 people (vs Illinois 39,460) |
| Population Estimate | 827 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 46.7y is 7.8 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 23% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 46.7 years (vs Illinois 37.7y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 23.4% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 804 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 188 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 115.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 394.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 107 |
| Population under 18 | 188 |
| Median age | 46.7 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 804 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.08 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 742 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 6 |
| Asian residents | 2 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 25 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 8.2% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 95.7% |
| Asian population | 0.2% (vs Illinois 6.1%) |
| Black population | 0.9% (vs Illinois 9.3%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 1.0% (vs Illinois 17.6%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 93.0% (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). 0.5% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 1% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 636 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 159 |
| Share born in this state | 79.1% |
| Share born in another state | 20.9% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 19.8% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.5% |
| Naturalized citizens | 0.6% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 21 |
| From Africa | 1 |
Households & Family Composition
372 households. Averaging 2.4 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 50% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 203 families, 9% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 196 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 203 |
| Married couples with children | 18 |
| Single-parent households | 16 |
| Average household size | 2.38 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 26.0% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 7 |
| Family households | 186 households (vs Illinois 9,709) |
| Households that are families | 50.0% (vs Illinois 62.4%) |
| Total households | 372 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. 22.4% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 451 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 22.4% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 34,599 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 35,050 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -451 |
| 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 | 132 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 14.7% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | 12 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | IL-12 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 17027 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 17 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 027 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Clinton |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 11.3% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 8.70 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 14.40 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 17027 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Clinton County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Large fringe metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 1,012 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 17027 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Clinton County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 66.5% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 61.1% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 52.2% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 37,562 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 20 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 23.4% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 804, growing, established, working-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 804 people (vs Illinois 39,460) |
| Town Summary · County | Clinton County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade