Benton is a city located in Franklin County Illinois. Benton has a 2024 population of 6,565. It is also the county seat of Franklin County. Benton is currently declining at a rate of -0.5% annually and its population has decreased by -1.94% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 6,695 in 2020.
The average household income in Benton is $70,049 with a poverty rate of 17.9%. The median age in Benton is 42.2 years: 38.1 years for males, and 48.3 years for females.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Benton was:
Race | Population | Percentage (of total) |
|---|---|---|
| White | 6,370 | 90.02% |
| Two or more races | 523 | 7.39% |
| Black or African American | 89 | 1.26% |
| Asian | 60 | 0.85% |
| Other race | 33 | 0.47% |
| Native American | 1 | 0.01% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 0 | 0% |
White
Two or more races
Black or African American
Asian
Other race
Native American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All | 3,013 | 2.25 | 62.9 | 37.1 |
| Non Family | 1,216 | 1.13 | 48.7 | 51.3 |
| Married | 1,190 | 3.02 | 85.5 | 14.5 |
| Female | 499 | 3.04 | 50.1 | 49.9 |
| Male | 108 | 2.79 | 32.4 | 67.6 |
2.94
Average Family Size
2.25
Average Household Size
62.9%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Male
Female
Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 9th to 12th Grade | 611 | 12.21% |
| Associates Degree | 451 | 9.01% |
| Bachelors Degree | 675 | 13.49% |
| Graduate Degree | 252 | 5.04% |
| High School Graduate | 1,501 | 30% |
| Less Than 9th Grade | 112 | 2.24% |
| Some College | 1,401 | 28% |
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
Race | Total | High School | Bachelors |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 4,544 | 4,007 | 778 |
| 2+ Races | 287 | 218 | 144 |
| Hispanic | 200 | 130 | 64 |
| Asian | 60 | 0 | 0 |
| Black | 51 | 25 | 5 |
| Other Race | 33 | 2 | 0 |
| Native American | 1 | 1 | 0 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among native american people with a rate of 100%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among 2+ races people with a rate of 50.17%.
All
Male
Female
Name | Average | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelors Degree | $58,714 | $63,322 | $58,410 |
| Graduate Degree | $95,500 | $0 | $68,304 |
| High School Graduate | $36,569 | $42,105 | $35,174 |
| Less Than 9th Grade | $30,685 | $31,295 | $0 |
| Overall | $39,320 | $52,330 | $35,913 |
| Some College | $37,244 | $54,362 | $25,104 |
$39,320
Average Earnings
$52,330
Average Male
$35,913
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
94.61% of Benton residents speak only English, while 5.39% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 2.67% of the population.
rate
Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 6,087 | 971 | 15.95% |
| Multiple | 502 | 190 | 37.85% |
| Hispanic | 277 | 131 | 47.29% |
| Black | 51 | 35 | 68.63% |
| Other | 31 | 17 | 54.84% |
17.9%
Overall Poverty Rate
14.05%
Male Poverty Rate
21.35%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Benton is Black, with 68.63% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Benton is White, with 15.95% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 1.21%. Among those working part-time, it was 26.3%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 25.23%.
rate
Rate | Poverty |
|---|---|
| Less Than 9th Grade | 30.66% |
| High School | 21.05% |
| Bachelors or Greater | 16.11% |
| Some College | 7.67% |
rate
Rate | Poverty |
|---|---|
| Female Unemployed | 100% |
| Male Unemployed | 49.06% |
| Female Employed | 13.85% |
| Male Employed | 2.26% |
Households
Families
MarriedFamilies
NonFamilies
Name | Median | Mean |
|---|---|---|
| Families | $63,393 | $90,550 |
| Households | $51,349 | $70,049 |
| Married Families | $81,250 | $-999,999,999 |
| Non Families | $26,380 | $39,045 |
mean
median
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
42.1%
Overall Marriage Rate
42.3%
Male Marriage Rate
41.9%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 55-64.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Second Gulf War
First Gulf War
Vietnam
Korea
World War II
458
Number of Veterans
430
Male Veterans
28
Female Veterans
War | Veterans |
|---|---|
| Vietnam | 164 |
| First Gulf War | 119 |
| Second Gulf War | 99 |
| Korea | 20 |
| World War II | 0 |
count
Age Group | Veterans |
|---|---|
| 65 to 74 | 138 |
| 75+ | 132 |
| 55 to 64 | 89 |
| 35 to 54 | 75 |
| 18 to 34 | 24 |
count
Name | Veterans | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| White | 454 | 9.1% |
| 2+ Races | 4 | 1.37% |
| Hispanic | 4 | 2% |
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
4.85%
Veteran Poverty Rate
54.85%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
51.9%
Labor Force Participation
50.7%
Employment Rate
2.5%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
84.44%
Born in Benton
98.04%
Native Born
1.96%
Foreign Born
1.37%
Non Citizen
0.59%
Naturalized
98.04% of Benton residents were born in the United States, with 84.44% having been born in Illinois. 1.37% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Asia.
Year | Population | Growth | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2029 | 6,404 | -32 | -0.5% |
| 2028 | 6,436 | -32 | -0.49% |
| 2027 | 6,468 | -33 | -0.51% |
| 2026 | 6,501 | -32 | -0.49% |
| 2025 | 6,533 | -32 | -0.49% |
| 2024 | 6,565 | -33 | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 6,598 | -10 | -0.15% |
| 2022 | 6,608 | -41 | -0.62% |
| 2021 | 6,649 | -46 | -0.69% |
| 2020 | 6,695 | -172 | -2.5% |
| 2019 | 6,867 | -40 | -0.58% |
| 2018 | 6,907 | -38 | -0.55% |
| 2017 | 6,945 | 0 | 0% |
| 2016 | 6,945 | -49 | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 6,994 | -3 | -0.04% |
| 2014 | 6,997 | -13 | -0.19% |
| 2013 | 7,010 | -52 | -0.74% |
| 2012 | 7,062 | -28 | -0.39% |
| 2011 | 7,090 | 1 | 0.01% |
| 2010 | 7,089 | 0 | 0% |
| 2000 | 6,880 | -336 | -4.66% |
| 1990 | 7,216 | -562 | -7.23% |
| 1980 | 7,778 | 945 | 13.83% |
| 1970 | 6,833 | -190 | -2.71% |
| 1960 | 7,023 | -825 | -10.51% |
| 1950 | 7,848 | 476 | 6.46% |
| 1940 | 7,372 | -847 | -10.31% |
| 1930 | 8,219 | 1,018 | 14.14% |
| 1920 | 7,201 | 4,526 | 169.2% |
| 1910 | 2,675 | -3,729 | -58.23% |