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Cowden, IL
Village in Shelby County, Illinois.
Population
534
Land area
0.4sq mi
People per sq mi
1,329
ZIP codes
0
Cowden and its ZIP codes
Cowden at a glance
- Cowden is about 5.8 times as dense as Illinois as a whole.
- The median household income is $62,031, 26% below the Illinois median of $83,390.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $77,000 (71% below Illinois) and median rent is $698 a month.
Local data for Cowden, IL
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Cowden, IL, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$62,031
Poverty rate
20.5%
Median home value
$77,000
Median rent
$698/mo
Homeownership
63.9%
Bachelor's or higher
10.1%
Median age
32.4
Average commute
28.5 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (110), Irish Americans (89), Mexican Americans (15).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Shelby County. PPP loans are for Cowden.
Unemployment rate
3.1%
Aug 2026, -0.9 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$50,258
4,919 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$56,517
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$140M
FY 2026, $6,650 per person
How people get to work
Cowden, IL, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone81.6%
- Carpooled11.1%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked0.0%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home7.4%
Average one-way commute: 28.5 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Cowden, IL, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: drought
Storm events since 1996
372
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
1
0.0% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
86° / 19°F
41.4 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in Cowden, IL, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
37.6%
U.S. 33.3% +4.3 pts
Diabetes
12.5%
U.S. 12.1% about the same
Smoking
15.8%
U.S. 12.8% +3.0 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
7.7%
U.S. 11.1% -3.4 pts
Cities near Cowden
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| LakewoodCensus-designated place | 5.4 mi | 0.4 |
| Beecher CityVillage | 5.8 mi | 0.9 |
| HerrickVillage | 7 mi | 0.4 |
| Tower HillVillage | 11 mi | 1 |
| ShelbyvilleCity | 12 mi | 4.1 |
| ShumwayVillage | 12 mi | 0.3 |
| StewardsonVillage | 12 mi | 0.6 |
| OconeeVillage | 13 mi | 0.4 |
| StrasburgVillage | 14 mi | 0.5 |
| AltamontCity | 15 mi | 1.5 |
| PanaCity | 15 mi | 3.9 |
| RamseyVillage | 15 mi | 1.1 |
| St. ElmoCity | 15 mi | 1.5 |
| WesterveltCensus-designated place | 16 mi | 0.1 |
| BrownstownVillage | 18 mi | 0.8 |
| EffinghamCity | 19 mi | 10.8 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Cowden, IL in?
- Cowden is in Shelby County, Illinois.
- What is the population of Cowden, IL?
- About 534 people live in Cowden, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Cowden?
- Nearby places include Lakewood (5.4 mi), Beecher City (5.8 mi), Herrick (7 mi), Tower Hill (11 mi), Shelbyville (12 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023