West Frankfort, IL · standard
ZIP Code 62896
Franklin County, Illinois - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 12,626
- 76/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $55,458
- Median income Below-median income area
- $88,900
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 13.4%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
West Frankfort pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 22nd pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 6th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 76
- people per sq mi
- 72%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 62896 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 62896 (West Frankfort, IL) rose +21.1% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 192.3 in 2023 to 232.9 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 62896 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in West Frankfort, Franklin County, Illinois, home to 12,626 residents across 166.8 square miles, a density of 76 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 62896 reports a modest median household income of $55,458 (31% below the average Illinois ZIP), while per-capita income is $29,640. Economic pressure is pronounced: 23.4% of residents are below the poverty line and unemployment is 11.2%. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $88,900 (54% below the average Illinois ZIP), and median rent is $681; owner occupancy is 72.4%.
Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 13.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 41.3, and the average commute is 27 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Franklin County, so 62896 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 62896
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in West Frankfort, IL
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 62896.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
39 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
35 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
27 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
25 establishments
- Construction
Construction
22 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 62896, West Frankfort, IL · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
12,626
Population
166.8
Area (sq mi)
76
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 62896?
41.3
Median Age
50.6%
Male
49.4%
Female
1.1%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$55,458
Median Household Income
-31% vs state ZIP avg
$29,640
Per Capita Income
23.4%
Poverty Rate
11.2%
Unemployment Rate
26.5 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 62896 ranks among Illinois ZIPs
West Frankfort, IL household income vs. every Illinois ZIP code
Median household income among 1,334 reporting Illinois ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$55,458 15th percentile higher than 15% of 1,334 Illinois ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Illinois ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
5,161housing units
5,161
Total Housing Units
4,501
Occupied Units
660
Vacant Units
2.33
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$88,900
Median Home Value
-54% vs state ZIP avg
$681
Median Rent
1964
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+21.1%
YoY Change (2024)
233
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+133%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 62896 have increased 21.1% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +133% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -6.0% | 160 |
| 2021 | +9.6% | 176 |
| 2022 | +8.8% | 191 |
| 2023 | +0.7% | 192 |
| 2024 | +21.1% | 233 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 221 business establishments in ZIP 62896, employing approximately 2,797 people with a combined annual payroll of $109,836,000.
221
Businesses
2,797
Employees
$109.8M
Annual Payroll
13
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 39 | 17.6% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 35 | 15.8% |
| Health care and social assistance | 27 | 12.2% |
| Accommodation and food services | 25 | 11.3% |
| Construction | 22 | 9.9% |
| Finance and insurance | 14 | 6.3% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 14 | 6.3% |
| Manufacturing | 9 | 4.1% |
| Wholesale trade | 9 | 4.1% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 9 | 4.1% |
| Information | 5 | 2.3% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 4 | 1.8% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 3 | 1.4% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 62896 vs 62951 →
ZIP 62896 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 62948
Herrin (62948)
12,865 residents
- 62896
West Frankfort (62896)
12,626 residents
- 62812
Benton (62812)
11,265 residents
- 62951
Johnston City (62951)
5,352 residents
- 62822 2,574
Christopher (62822)
2,574 residents
- 62999 1,829
Zeigler (62999)
1,829 residents
- 62933 1,230
Energy (62933)
1,230 residents
- 62819 448
Buckner (62819)
448 residents
- 62874 372
Orient (62874)
372 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 62896 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 62896 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 62933
Energy (62933)
$67,794 median income
- 62948
Herrin (62948)
$60,975 median income
- 62856
Logan (62856)
$60,750 median income
- 62812
Benton (62812)
$60,539 median income
- 62896
West Frankfort (62896)
$55,458 median income
- 62951
Johnston City (62951)
$50,657 median income
- 62822
Christopher (62822)
$47,770 median income
- 62819
Buckner (62819)
$45,341 median income
- 62999
Zeigler (62999)
$41,553 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 62896 ranks #5 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62951 | Johnston City, IL | 5,352 | 4.7 mi |
| 62874 | Orient, IL | 372 | 3.8 mi |
| 62812 | Benton, IL | 11,265 | 7.4 mi |
| 62841 | Freeman Spur, IL | 98 | 5.1 mi |
| 62999 | Zeigler, IL | 1,829 | 7.4 mi |
| 62856 | Logan, IL | 324 | 6.3 mi |
| 62819 | Buckner, IL | 448 | 8.1 mi |
| 62948 | Herrin, IL | 12,865 | 8.0 mi |
| 62822 | Christopher, IL | 2,574 | 9.7 mi |
| 62933 | Energy, IL | 1,230 | 10.1 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 62896, both outside IL so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (12,626 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Franklin County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 62896 in?
ZIP code 62896 (West Frankfort) is located in Franklin County, Illinois. Franklin County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/franklin-il.
What is the population of ZIP code 62896?
ZIP code 62896 in West Frankfort, IL has a population of 12,626 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 62896?
The median household income in ZIP 62896 is $55,458, which is 27% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 62896?
The median home value in ZIP 62896 is $88,900, which is 68% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 62896?
The largest racial group in ZIP 62896 is White at 95.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 1.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 62896?
ZIP code 62896 has 221 business establishments employing approximately 2,797 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 62896?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 62896 are: Retail trade (39), Other services (except public administration) (35), Health care and social assistance (27). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 62896?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 62896 increased by 21.1% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 133%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 62896?
In ZIP code 62896, 49.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 13.4% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 62896?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 62896 is 26.5 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 62896?
In ZIP code 62896, approximately 72.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 27.6% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 62896?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 62896 is 23.4% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 62896's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 62896 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where West Frankfort, IL ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.