Cairo

County:: Alexander County
County Seat:: Yes
Area (mi²):: 6.987
State:: Illinois

Cairo is a city located in Alexander County, Illinois. Cairo has a 2025 population of 1,452. It is also the county seat of Alexander County. Cairo is currently declining at a rate of -3.52% annually and its population has decreased by -15.38% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 1,716 in 2020.

The average household income in Cairo is $47,868 with a poverty rate of 21.49%. The median age in Cairo is 43.2 years: 39.9 years for males, and 48 years for females.

Demographics

The racial composition of Cairo includes 67.45% Black or African American, 26.9% White, and smaller percentages for Native American, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, other race and multiracial populations.

Population by Race

Black or African American

White

Two or more races

Native American

Asian

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

Other race

Race	Population	Percentage (of total)
Black or African American	1,146	67.45%
White	457	26.9%
Two or more races	96	5.65%
Native American	0	0%
Asian	0	0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander	0	0%
Other race	0	0%

Cairo Marital Status

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

Never Married

Economics and Income Statistics

Cairo's average per capita income is $35,278. Household income levels show a median of $35,493. The poverty rate stands at 21.49%.

Families: A family includes the owner or renter of the home along with everyone related to them - whether through birth, marriage, or adoption. This includes relatives like spouses, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, and any other family members.

Households: A household includes all the people who occupy a housing unit (such as a house or apartment) as their usual place of residence.

Non Families: A nonfamily household is either someone living alone or when the owner/renter lives with people they aren't related to, like roommates.

Name	Median	Mean
Married Families	$75,250	-
Families	$53,094	$66,931
Households	$35,493	$47,868
Non Families	$25,556	$27,625

$35,278

Average Income

$35,493

Median Household Income

21.49%

Poverty Rate