1st Advantage MortgageAbout 82% of Boone County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $84,571. Use those as context only. A lender looks at your own documented income and debts; compare APR and total repaid on every Boone County offer.
On this page
- Who lives in Boone County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Boone County
- Where Boone County differs from the rest of Illinois
- Boone County industries and commutes
- Paychecks and income spread in Boone County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Boone County
- Counties near Boone County
- People and households in Boone County
- Before borrowing in Boone County
- $7,048 a month: the Boone County median budget
- Verifying a lender from Boone County
- Before you sign
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Boone County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Boone County's population at 53,230; only 24 of Illinois's 102 county-level areas are larger. Packed into 281 square miles, that is close to 190 residents for every square mile of land. Metro area: Rockford, IL (OMB, 2023). Belvidere is the biggest of its 9 Census places, at roughly 24,752 people (47% of the county total).
Rent, home values and ownership in Boone County
$1,041 a month is the median gross rent in Boone County, 18% below the state. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 46% in Boone County, 48% statewide. Home values center on $216,900, or 2.6 years of median income. Owners occupy 82% of homes. The median year built is 1986. Against the median U.S. county, Boone County rent is 19% above.
| Boone County | Illinois | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,041/mo | $1,274/mo | 18% lower |
| Median home value | $216,900 | $263,300 | 18% lower |
| Owners | 82% | 67% | +14.7 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 48% | -2.4 pts |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 27% | -0.2 pts |
| Mobile homes | 6.0% | 2.3% | +3.8 pts |
| Vacant units | 4% | 8% | -3.6 pts |
At a $216,900 median value, many Boone County owners hold equity. Using it lowers cost only if you can carry the risk (equity vs. unsecured).
Where Boone County differs from the rest of Illinois
Out of every Illinois county, Boone County is most unusual on these measures.
- Boone County ranks 6th lowest of 102 Illinois counties for the housing vacancy rate: 4%, against 8% statewide. Few vacant units can mean a tight housing market.
- Boone County ranks 8th highest of 102 Illinois counties for the ACS unemployment rate: 7.4%, against 5.8% statewide. If work is uncertain, keep any loan small and the term short.
- On median home value, Boone County sits near the top of Illinois at $216,900, 11th highest of 102. Owners with equity have more options, including secured credit, but that puts the house at risk.
Boone County industries and commutes
Manufacturing employs 22% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 21%. Compared with Illinois, the county leans toward manufacturing (22% against 11%). The survey's unemployment rate for Boone County averages 7.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.8%). Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 16%; under 15 minutes: 26%.
| Where residents work | Boone County | Difference from Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 21.9% | +10.4 pts |
| Education and health care | 21.3% | -2.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.3% | 0.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.5% | -4.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.4% | +0.3 pts |
| Construction | 6.9% | +1.6 pts |
Self-employed in Boone County? Two years of tax returns usually stand in for pay stubs.
Paychecks and income spread in Boone County
At $84,571, the typical Boone County household income is 29% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 12 Illinois counties post a higher median.
| Band | Boone County | Compared with Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 17.8% | -3.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.1% | +3.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.1% | +3.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.9% | -2.9 pts |
18% under $35,000 and 42% at $100,000 or more: that is the Boone County income split. 9.9% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.8%). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Boone County
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 78% of Boone County residents live in one of the 9. Gap between richest and poorest larger place: $82,780, Timberlane over Belvidere. Live in one of these Boone County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belvidere | city | 24,752 | $64,528 | $991 | 5 mi |
| Candlewick Lake | CDP | 5,448 | $86,146 | $1,520 | 3 mi |
| Poplar Grove | village | 3,923 | $120,278 | $1,395 | 2 mi |
| Cherry Valley | village | 3,749 | $74,655 | $1,024 | 10 mi |
| Capron | village | 1,311 | $90,192 | $900 | 7 mi |
| Timberlane | village | 1,278 | $147,308 | n/a | 2 mi |
| Garden Prairie | CDP | 403 | $68,319 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Argyle | CDP | 324 | $139,632 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Caledonia | village | 226 | $88,571 | $1,711 | 5 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Counties near Boone County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Boone County's, from 17 to 32 miles away. Income ranges from $65,837 in Winnebago County to $104,802 in McHenry County; 1 of these neighbors top Boone County's median. Some neighbors are in Wisconsin. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Boone County resident follows Illinois rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boone County | - | $84,571 | $1,041/mo | 82% |
| Winnebago County, IL | 17 mi | $65,837 | $1,021/mo | 66% |
| McHenry County, IL | 19 mi | $104,802 | $1,401/mo | 83% |
| Rock County, WI | 27 mi | $75,673 | $1,037/mo | 71% |
| Walworth County, WI | 28 mi | $80,520 | $1,150/mo | 71% |
| DeKalb County, IL | 29 mi | $70,724 | $1,049/mo | 61% |
| Ogle County, IL | 32 mi | $82,132 | $936/mo | 75% |
People and households in Boone County
Bachelor's degree or higher: 24% of Boone County adults. The uninsured rate is 5.6%, against 6.9% for Illinois.
| People and households | Boone County | Compared with Illinois | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.6% | -14.2 pts | +1.5 pts |
| No vehicle | 4.2% | -6.7 pts | -1.2 pts |
| Work from home | 9.6% | -6.2 pts | +0.9 pts |
| No high school diploma | 13.8% | +4.3 pts | n/a |
| Poverty rate | 9.9% | -1.9 pts | -3.2 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.4% | +1.5 pts | +2.9 pts |
| No health insurance | 5.6% | -1.3 pts | -2.3 pts |
| Median age | 39.7 | +0.7 yrs | -1.8 yrs |
| Commute length | Boone County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 37.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.1% |
| 60+ min | 7.8% |
Before borrowing in Boone County
Where the Boone County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- 42% at $100,000+. Good credit gets more offers in Boone County; use that to compare, not to borrow more.
- Rent at $1,041. With 46% burdened, a short term and small amount keep risk down.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Boone County borrower sees (free reports).
$7,048 a month: the Boone County median budget
How much room does a median Boone County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $7,048 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $1,041 uses 15%
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $1,778 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Verifying a lender from Boone County
Boone County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Illinois: Illinois personal loans.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Price the Boone County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
Where does Boone County rank on income in Illinois?
13th of 102, with a median of $84,571. The state median is $83,390.
Is Boone County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,041 against $1,274 statewide, and 46% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Can Boone County owners borrow against a $216,900 home?
Many can, through a home equity loan or line. It is secured by the house, so compare it with an unsecured personal loan before choosing.
I live in a small Boone County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Belvidere, Candlewick Lake, Poplar Grove, Cherry Valley, Capron and 4 more.
Is the fit check different in Boone County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.