Lowest-earning counties in Illinois

Written by:
Stacker
July 14, 2022
Henryk Sadura // Shutterstock

Lowest-earning counties in Illinois

Americans on the whole were doing well financially heading into 2020, with major markers like unemployment reaching 50-year lows. The pandemic changed all that: During the second quarter of the 2020 fiscal year, our nation's real GDP fell by a whopping 31.4%, a number that hasn't been seen since the Great Depression. Since then the GDP has recovered, the first quarter of 2022 was 11% above the fourth quarter of 2019.

While GDP has recovered since the height of the pandemic, wage growth has not kept pace with inflation. In 2021 average hourly wages increased 4.7% while there was 7% inflation, meaning the worker's purchasing power dropped by 2.4%.

Where you live can make a big impact on your financial situation. The highest earning county in the U.S. earns $147,111, while the lowest earns $22,292. Stacker compiled a list of the lowest-earning counties in Illinois using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the Census' 2020 5-year estimate median household income.

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#50. Johnson County

- Median household income: $55,363
--- 19.1% below state average, 14.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 21.3%
--- #1,391 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.3%
--- #1,835 highest among all counties nationwide

#49. Randolph County

- Median household income: $55,319
--- 19.2% below state average, 14.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 20.4%
--- #1,543 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.2%
--- #1,831 highest among all counties nationwide

#48. Winnebago County

- Median household income: $55,310
--- 19.2% below state average, 14.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 23.3%
--- #1,094 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.2%
--- #1,830 highest among all counties nationwide

#47. Adams County

- Median household income: $55,052
--- 19.5% below state average, 15.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 21.8%
--- #1,311 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.8%
--- #1,810 highest among all counties nationwide

#46. Richland County

- Median household income: $55,032
--- 19.6% below state average, 15.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 20.4%
--- #1,536 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.6%
--- #1,806 highest among all counties nationwide
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#45. Montgomery County

- Median household income: $54,886
--- 19.8% below state average, 15.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 20.6%
--- #1,506 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.5%
--- #1,788 highest among all counties nationwide

#44. Iroquois County

- Median household income: $54,445
--- 20.4% below state average, 16.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.5%
--- #1,690 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.5%
--- #1,744 highest among all counties nationwide

#43. Warren County

- Median household income: $54,291
--- 20.7% below state average, 16.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 20.2%
--- #1,575 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 8.3%
--- #1,729 highest among all counties nationwide

#42. Champaign County

- Median household income: $53,936
--- 21.2% below state average, 17.0% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 25.9%
--- #786 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 16.7%
--- #1,692 highest among all counties nationwide

#41. Cass County

- Median household income: $53,899
--- 21.2% below state average, 17.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 18.2%
--- #1,933 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.2%
--- #1,686 highest among all counties nationwide
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#40. Stark County

- Median household income: $53,828
--- 21.3% below state average, 17.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 18.2%
--- #1,933 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.4%
--- #1,676 highest among all counties nationwide

#39. Edwards County

- Median household income: $53,801
--- 21.4% below state average, 17.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.4%
--- #2,072 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.7%
--- #1,673 highest among all counties nationwide

#38. Macon County

- Median household income: $53,725
--- 21.5% below state average, 17.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 21.0%
--- #1,459 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.7%
--- #1,661 highest among all counties nationwide

#37. Bond County

- Median household income: $53,568
--- 21.7% below state average, 17.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 21.4%
--- #1,376 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.4%
--- #1,646 highest among all counties nationwide

#36. Lawrence County

- Median household income: $53,087
--- 22.4% below state average, 18.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 21.8%
--- #1,298 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 8.4%
--- #1,603 highest among all counties nationwide
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#35. Morgan County

- Median household income: $53,002
--- 22.5% below state average, 18.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 21.7%
--- #1,315 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.0%
--- #1,593 highest among all counties nationwide

#34. Carroll County

- Median household income: $52,813
--- 22.8% below state average, 18.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 20.4%
--- #1,543 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.3%
--- #1,567 highest among all counties nationwide

#33. Fulton County

- Median household income: $52,243
--- 23.7% below state average, 19.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 21.8%
--- #1,298 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.5%
--- #1,509 highest among all counties nationwide

#32. Clay County

- Median household income: $52,167
--- 23.8% below state average, 19.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.8%
--- #1,637 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 10.9%
--- #1,497 highest among all counties nationwide

#31. Christian County

- Median household income: $52,120
--- 23.8% below state average, 19.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 18.2%
--- #1,933 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 10.0%
--- #1,486 highest among all counties nationwide
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#30. Williamson County

- Median household income: $52,076
--- 23.9% below state average, 19.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 21.5%
--- #1,352 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.1%
--- #1,482 highest among all counties nationwide

#29. Greene County

- Median household income: $51,746
--- 24.4% below state average, 20.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 21.2%
--- #1,410 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.0%
--- #1,430 highest among all counties nationwide

#28. Jefferson County

- Median household income: $51,662
--- 24.5% below state average, 20.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.0%
--- #1,784 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.7%
--- #1,413 highest among all counties nationwide

#27. Union County

- Median household income: $51,655
--- 24.5% below state average, 20.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.0%
--- #1,784 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.6%
--- #1,411 highest among all counties nationwide

#26. Perry County

- Median household income: $51,616
--- 24.6% below state average, 20.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.7%
--- #1,656 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.8%
--- #1,406 highest among all counties nationwide
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#25. Schuyler County

- Median household income: $51,376
--- 24.9% below state average, 21.0% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.9%
--- #2,165 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 7.4%
--- #1,369 highest among all counties nationwide

#24. Massac County

- Median household income: $51,195
--- 25.2% below state average, 21.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.7%
--- #2,004 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.2%
--- #1,347 highest among all counties nationwide

#23. Crawford County

- Median household income: $50,968
--- 25.5% below state average, 21.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 21.1%
--- #1,424 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.5%
--- #1,313 highest among all counties nationwide

#22. Mason County

- Median household income: $50,883
--- 25.6% below state average, 21.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 20.7%
--- #1,492 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.8%
--- #1,306 highest among all counties nationwide

#21. Hardin County

- Median household income: $50,847
--- 25.7% below state average, 21.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.4%
--- #2,247 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.4%
--- #1,302 highest among all counties nationwide
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#20. Ford County

- Median household income: $50,582
--- 26.1% below state average, 22.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 21.0%
--- #1,445 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 10.5%
--- #1,273 highest among all counties nationwide

#19. Stephenson County

- Median household income: $50,466
--- 26.2% below state average, 22.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.1%
--- #1,768 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.1%
--- #1,267 highest among all counties nationwide

#18. Wayne County

- Median household income: $50,205
--- 26.6% below state average, 22.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 15.2%
--- #2,473 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 10.5%
--- #1,231 highest among all counties nationwide

#17. Marion County

- Median household income: $49,925
--- 27.0% below state average, 23.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.7%
--- #2,002 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.7%
--- #1,198 highest among all counties nationwide

#16. Wabash County

- Median household income: $48,878
--- 28.6% below state average, 24.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 20.5%
--- #1,520 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.1%
--- #1,082 highest among all counties nationwide
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#15. Edgar County

- Median household income: $48,543
--- 29.1% below state average, 25.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.7%
--- #2,553 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.8%
--- #1,054 highest among all counties nationwide

#14. White County

- Median household income: $48,303
--- 29.4% below state average, 25.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.1%
--- #2,120 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 15.2%
--- #1,034 highest among all counties nationwide

#13. Vermilion County

- Median household income: $46,842
--- 31.5% below state average, 27.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.5%
--- #2,042 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.1%
--- #895 highest among all counties nationwide

#12. Pike County

- Median household income: $46,605
--- 31.9% below state average, 28.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 18.7%
--- #1,839 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.7%
--- #877 highest among all counties nationwide

#11. Coles County

- Median household income: $46,411
--- 32.2% below state average, 28.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.8%
--- #1,986 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 15.5%
--- #857 highest among all counties nationwide
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#10. Fayette County

- Median household income: $45,634
--- 33.3% below state average, 29.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 18.5%
--- #1,874 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.6%
--- #784 highest among all counties nationwide

#9. Knox County

- Median household income: $44,464
--- 35.0% below state average, 31.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.0%
--- #2,330 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 15.7%
--- #691 highest among all counties nationwide

#8. Saline County

- Median household income: $43,928
--- 35.8% below state average, 32.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.9%
--- #2,170 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 16.4%
--- #644 highest among all counties nationwide

#7. Franklin County

- Median household income: $43,671
--- 36.2% below state average, 32.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 15.7%
--- #2,395 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 17.4%
--- #620 highest among all counties nationwide

#6. McDonough County

- Median household income: $43,591
--- 36.3% below state average, 32.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.5%
--- #1,690 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 19.2%
--- #616 highest among all counties nationwide
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#5. Pope County

- Median household income: $43,140
--- 37.0% below state average, 33.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 18.4%
--- #1,892 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 21.8%
--- #583 highest among all counties nationwide

#4. Gallatin County

- Median household income: $43,092
--- 37.0% below state average, 33.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 15.5%
--- #2,430 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 20.0%
--- #580 highest among all counties nationwide

#3. Jackson County

- Median household income: $39,689
--- 42.0% below state average, 38.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.4%
--- #2,072 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 20.0%
--- #335 highest among all counties nationwide

#2. Pulaski County

- Median household income: $37,308
--- 45.5% below state average, 42.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 8.6%
--- #3,077 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 19.0%
--- #227 highest among all counties nationwide

#1. Alexander County

- Median household income: $34,709
--- 49.3% below state average, 46.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 9.0%
--- #3,063 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 18.7%
--- #133 highest among all counties nationwide
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