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Alexander County, IL
7 cities and towns and 6 ZIP codes in Alexander County, Illinois.
Population
4,875
Land area
235sq mi
People per sq mi
21
ZIP codes
6
Cities and towns in Alexander County
Alexander County at a glance
- Alexander County is 91% less dense than Illinois as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $47,043 a year, 44% less than the Illinois figure of $83,390.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $59,800 (77% below Illinois) and median rent is $656 a month.
- The biggest population centers are Cairo (1,682), Tamms (589) and Olive Branch (499).
Local data for Alexander County, IL
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Alexander County, IL, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$47,043
Poverty rate
19.0%
Median home value
$59,800
Median rent
$656/mo
Homeownership
77.6%
Bachelor's or higher
12.6%
Median age
48.0
Average commute
30.6 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (820), Irish Americans (339), Scottish Americans (59).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
5.6%
Aug 2026, -2.2 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$51,124
859 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$54,342
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$56.28M
FY 2026, $10,740 per person
PPP loans
$4.73M
171 loans, 543 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$12.26K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Alexander County, IL, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone87.4%
- Carpooled4.6%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked0.7%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other2.6%
- Worked from home4.7%
Average one-way commute: 30.6 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Alexander County, IL, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: earthquake
Storm events since 1996
895
Most often flood
Flood insurance policies
112
3.5% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
89° / 26°F
51.0 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone5 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Alexander County, IL, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
45.3%
U.S. 33.3% +12.0 pts
Diabetes
19.0%
U.S. 12.1% +6.9 pts
Smoking
19.6%
U.S. 12.8% +6.8 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
10.1%
U.S. 11.1% -1.0 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Alexander County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Alexander County, IL?
- Cairo is the largest city or town in Alexander County, with about 1,682 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Alexander County?
- Alexander County includes 6 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 62914, 62957, 62962, 62969, 62988.
- What is the population of Alexander County, IL?
- About 4,875 people live in Alexander County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Alexander County?
- Alexander County borders Cape Girardeau County, MO, Scott County, MO, Union County, Mississippi County, MO, Ballard County, KY, Pulaski County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023