1st Advantage MortgageAbout 76% of Bureau County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $69,257. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- A quick profile of Bureau County
- Work, industries and travel time in Bureau County
- Household income in Bureau County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Bureau County
- Towns and communities in Bureau County
- Regional comparison for Bureau County
- Who lives in Bureau County, in numbers
- Reading the Bureau County data as a borrower
- Room for a loan payment in Bureau County
- Steps before you apply in Bureau County
- Lender oversight for Bureau County
- More guides for Bureau County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Bureau County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Bureau County's population at 32,866; only 45 of Illinois's 102 county-level areas are larger. It covers 869 square miles of land, or about 38 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Bureau County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 22 places in the county (22 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Princeton, with about 7,975 residents, or 24% of the county.
Work, industries and travel time in Bureau County
Education and health care employs 22% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 15%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 6% of workers here, versus 1% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Bureau County averages 4.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.8%). 10% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 5% work from home. 6.7% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Bureau County | Compared with Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.8% | -1.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.2% | +3.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 15.0% | +4.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.6% | -0.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.4% | +0.3 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 5.9% | +4.8 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Household income in Bureau County
Bureau County households have a median income of $69,257 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 44th of 102 in Illinois.
| Band | Bureau County | Compared with Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.2% | +2.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.1% | +6.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.9% | -0.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.9% | -8.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 33% of Bureau County households make $100,000 or more, and 23% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 10.8%, 1 point lower than the state's 11.8%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.422 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $69,257 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Rent, home values and ownership in Bureau County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $832 in Bureau County versus $1,274 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 34% of renter households here. Home values center on $126,900, or 1.8 years of median income. The ownership rate is 76%. Median construction year: 1958.
| Measure | Bureau County | Illinois | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $832/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $126,900 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 34% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 16% | 27% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Bureau 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.
Towns and communities in Bureau County
The table lists the 14 largest of 22 Census places in Bureau County, by population. Together all 22 hold about 25,020 people, so roughly 24% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $74,750 at the median in Sheffield, $51,771 in Buda. No Bureau County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 22.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princeton | city | 7,975 | $61,946 | $782 | 4 mi |
| Spring Valley | city | 5,476 | $70,598 | $915 | 19 mi |
| De Pue | village | 1,532 | $58,417 | $819 | 13 mi |
| Ladd | village | 1,356 | $67,321 | $778 | 16 mi |
| Walnut | village | 1,282 | $61,750 | $617 | 11 mi |
| Wyanet | village | 966 | $63,295 | $903 | 4 mi |
| Sheffield | village | 874 | $74,750 | $1,047 | 11 mi |
| Tiskilwa | village | 751 | $66,786 | $754 | 8 mi |
| La Moille | village | 750 | $68,125 | $876 | 15 mi |
| Ohio | village | 609 | $68,594 | $638 | 11 mi |
| Cherry | village | 534 | $59,545 | $675 | 16 mi |
| Buda | village | 517 | $51,771 | $865 | 9 mi |
| Malden | village | 460 | $79,107 | $1,014 | 8 mi |
| Neponset | village | 446 | $61,250 | $850 | 15 mi |
Regional comparison for Bureau County
Distances run center to center, from Putnam County at 18 miles out to Henry County at 31. Putnam County leads the group on income ($75,590), Stark County trails ($62,878), and Bureau County out-earns 2 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bureau County | - | $69,257 | $832/mo | 76% |
| Putnam County, IL | 18 mi | $75,590 | $851/mo | 81% |
| Stark County, IL | 25 mi | $62,878 | $735/mo | 80% |
| Lee County, IL | 27 mi | $70,292 | $894/mo | 74% |
| Marshall County, IL | 27 mi | $71,585 | $782/mo | 79% |
| Whiteside County, IL | 31 mi | $67,500 | $856/mo | 77% |
| Henry County, IL | 31 mi | $71,911 | $842/mo | 80% |
Who lives in Bureau County, in numbers
22% of Bureau County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 5.4%, against 6.9% for Illinois.
| People and households | Bureau County | Illinois | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.1 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.7% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.5% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.4% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.7% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.4% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.8% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.3% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Bureau County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 40.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.1% |
| 60+ min | 6.3% |
Reading the Bureau County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Bureau County borrowers.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Consolidating cards in Bureau County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
Room for a loan payment in Bureau County
Here is the Bureau County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $5,771 a month: gross income for a household at the Bureau County median
- Less median rent of $832, which is 14% of it
- $1,650: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Bureau County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Steps before you apply in Bureau County
A short checklist for Bureau County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Bureau County-area credit union.
- A Illinois license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask a Bureau County credit union about member loans.
Lender oversight for Bureau County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Bureau County borrowers answers to 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.
More guides for Bureau County
For statewide rules and data, see the Illinois guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Bureau County household make?
About $69,257 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 17% below the Illinois median.
How much is rent in Bureau County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $832 a month; 34% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Bureau County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 76% of Bureau 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 Princeton?
Yes, along with the other 21 Census places in Bureau County, such as Spring Valley, De Pue, Ladd.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Bureau County or elsewhere in Illinois, the same rules apply.