1st Advantage MortgageBond County households have a median income of $65,959 and median rent of $785 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- A quick profile of Bond County
- Renting and owning in Bond County
- Income in Bond County compared with Illinois
- Employment and commuting in Bond County
- The counties around Bond County
- Bond County towns compared
- Budget math at the Bond County median
- Borrowing situations common in Bond County
- Who lives in Bond County, in numbers
- Four steps for Bond County borrowers
- Who licenses lenders for Bond County residents
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Bond County
Bond County is home to about 16,716 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 62nd most populous of 102 county-level areas in Illinois. It covers 380 square miles of land, or about 44 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the St. Louis, MO-IL metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 9 Census places inside Bond County, Greenville leads by population with about 7,235; 9 of the 9 are incorporated.
Renting and owning in Bond County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $785 in Bond County versus $1,274 statewide. 33% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 15% spend half or more. With a median value of $145,700, a typical Bond County house costs 2.2 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 77% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1975.
| Bond County | Illinois | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $785/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $145,700 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 33% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 27% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Bond County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Income in Bond County compared with Illinois
Half of Bond County households take in less than $65,959 a year and half take in more, 21% below the Illinois median of $83,390.
| Household income | Bond County | vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.0% | +1.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.2% | +6.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.3% | +1.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.5% | -8.4 pts |
About 22% of households earn under $35,000, while 35% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 10.9%, 1 point lower than the state's 11.8%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.437 here. None of these numbers decides a Bond County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Employment and commuting in Bond County
Education and health care employs 27% of working residents, the largest share; arts, lodging and food service is next with 13%. Compared with Illinois, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (6% against 1%). Averaged over the five survey years, 4.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 81% drive to work alone and 18% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Where residents work | Bond County | Difference from Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.9% | +3.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 12.5% | +4.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.6% | -1.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.2% | -2.2 pts |
| Public administration | 7.1% | +3.3 pts |
| Other services | 6.6% | +2.0 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
The counties around Bond County
Clinton County is closest, 19 miles from center to center; the sixth, Washington County, is 37 miles off. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Bond County; Clinton County is highest at $86,588 and Fayette County lowest at $60,944.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bond County | - | $65,959 | $785/mo | 77% |
| Clinton County, IL | 19 mi | $86,588 | $912/mo | 80% |
| Montgomery County, IL | 24 mi | $63,620 | $723/mo | 77% |
| Fayette County, IL | 24 mi | $60,944 | $798/mo | 81% |
| Madison County, IL | 25 mi | $75,793 | $1,024/mo | 74% |
| Marion County, IL | 32 mi | $61,240 | $794/mo | 75% |
| Washington County, IL | 37 mi | $78,224 | $818/mo | 84% |
Bond County towns compared
Here are the 9 most populous of the county's 9 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 63% of Bond County residents live in one of the 9. Incomes vary by place: $62,089 at the median in Greenville, $53,971 in Pocahontas. Rent is cheapest in Pocahontas ($759) and steepest in Mulberry Grove ($846). No Bond County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 9.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville | city | 7,235 | $62,089 | $783 | 3 mi |
| Pocahontas | village | 843 | $53,971 | $759 | 7 mi |
| Mulberry Grove | village | 765 | $57,386 | $846 | 10 mi |
| Sorento | village | 472 | $47,679 | $533 | 11 mi |
| Panama | village | 420 | $72,917 | $970 | 11 mi |
| Pierron | village | 414 | $66,875 | $1,202 | 11 mi |
| Smithboro | village | 164 | $44,375 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Donnellson | village | 129 | $45,875 | $913 | 10 mi |
| Old Ripley | village | 125 | $62,188 | n/a | 7 mi |
Budget math at the Bond County median
Here is the Bond County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,497 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $785 uses 14%
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,194 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- $1,579: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $785, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Borrowing situations common in Bond County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Bond County borrowers.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Bond County borrower sees (free reports).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
Who lives in Bond County, in numbers
College graduates make up 22% of the adult population. About 4% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Bond County | Illinois | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.7 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.6% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.9% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.6% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.8% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.9% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.5% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 41.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.9% |
| 60+ min | 10.0% |
Four steps for Bond County borrowers
Quick steps for Bond County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Bond County.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Illinois borrowers.
- Ask a Bond County credit union about member loans.
Who licenses lenders for Bond County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Bond County borrowers answers to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Illinois guide.
Related local guides
The Illinois guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bond County a high-income county?
Its $65,959 median ranks 56th of 102 Illinois counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Bond County rent compare with Illinois?
$785 locally versus $1,274 for the state, 38% below.
Should Bond County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 77% of Bond County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Greenville?
Yes, along with the other 8 Census places in Bond County, such as Pocahontas, Mulberry Grove, Sorento.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Bond County or elsewhere in Illinois, the same rules apply.