1st Advantage Mortgage27% of Carroll County households earn $100,000 or more; the median is $60,758 (ACS 2020-24). Borrow only what the expense needs, pick the shortest affordable term, and walk away from any lender asking a Carroll County applicant for an upfront fee.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Carroll County
- What it costs to live in Carroll County
- How much Carroll County households make
- Jobs and commutes in Carroll County
- How Carroll County ranks in Illinois
- Census places in Carroll County
- Carroll County next to its neighbors
- Borrowing situations common in Carroll County
- $5,063 a month: the Carroll County median budget
- More Carroll County figures
- Lender oversight for Carroll County
- Before you sign
- Beyond Carroll County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Carroll County
Carroll County is home to about 15,576 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 68th most populous of 102 county-level areas in Illinois. Its 445 square miles average 35 people per square mile, by the 2024 Census Gazetteer. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Carroll County is not part of any metropolitan area. Savanna (2,816 people) heads the county's list of 8 Census places, 7 incorporated and 1 census-designated.
What it costs to live in Carroll County
$818 a month is the median gross rent in Carroll County, 36% below the state. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 37% of renter households here. With a median value of $114,500, a typical Carroll County house costs 1.9 times what the median household earns in a year. Homeowners 77%, renters 23%. Median construction year: 1957. Against the median U.S. county, Carroll County rent is 7% below.
| Cost | Carroll County | Illinois figure | Higher or lower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent-burdened renters | 37% | 48% | -10.8 pts |
| Owners | 77% | 67% | +10.1 pts |
| Median home value | $114,500 | $263,300 | 57% lower |
| Median gross rent | $818/mo | $1,274/mo | 36% lower |
| Mobile homes | 3.3% | 2.3% | +1.1 pts |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 27% | 0.0 pts |
Carroll County owners: get one secured and one unsecured quote, then compare the total cost and what you would put up as collateral (side by side).
How much Carroll County households make
Median household income in Carroll County: $60,758 (27% below Illinois, $83,390). In the state ranking that is 80th of 102.
| Households earning | Carroll County | +/- vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.9% | +6.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.9% | +8.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.8% | -4.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.4% | -10.4 pts |
Six-figure households (27%) outnumber those under $35,000 (27%) in Carroll County. The poverty rate is 14.2%, 2 points higher than the state's 11.8%. Carroll County scores 0.411 on the Gini index, where higher means more unequal incomes. For a borrower in Carroll County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Jobs and commutes in Carroll County
Manufacturing (22%), education and health care (20%) and retail trade (9%) lead Carroll County's job mix. Manufacturing stands out: 22% of workers here, versus 11% statewide. 3.1% of Carroll County's labor force reported being unemployed, averaged across 2020 to 2024. Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 14%; under 15 minutes: 34%.
| Industry | Share of Carroll County workers | vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 22.5% | +11.0 pts |
| Education and health care | 19.6% | -4.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.3% | -1.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.8% | +0.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.2% | -1.0 pts |
| Construction | 5.6% | +0.3 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
How Carroll County ranks in Illinois
Ranked against the other 101 county-level areas in Illinois, these are the Carroll County figures furthest from the middle.
- Few Illinois counties match Carroll County on households without a vehicle: 3.3% here, 11.0% for the state, ranking 10th lowest of 102. Nearly every household has a vehicle, so repair costs are a common reason to borrow.
- On the housing vacancy rate, Carroll County sits near the top of Illinois at 20%, 12th highest of 102. High vacancy often reflects seasonal or second homes.
- The ACS unemployment rate: 3.1% in Carroll County. Only 13 of 102 Illinois counties are lower. Low unemployment does not lower your rate; your credit does.
Census places in Carroll County
Places, by size: the top 8 of 8. Roughly 29% of Carroll County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. Lake Carroll ($108,750) and Savanna ($48,036) mark the top and bottom of Carroll County's income range among larger places. Median rent ranges from $513 in Milledgeville to $918 in Thomson. Savanna and every other Carroll County community use this county guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savanna | city | 2,816 | $48,036 | $835 | 11 mi |
| Thomson | village | 1,757 | $61,250 | $918 | 12 mi |
| Lanark | city | 1,541 | $59,375 | $819 | 5 mi |
| Mount Carroll | city | 1,501 | $58,500 | $785 | 3 mi |
| Milledgeville | village | 1,218 | $59,417 | $513 | 11 mi |
| Lake Carroll | CDP | 853 | $108,750 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Shannon | village | 772 | $58,929 | $604 | 11 mi |
| Chadwick | village | 591 | $78,688 | n/a | 4 mi |
Carroll County next to its neighbors
Six nearby counties, 22 to 34 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. All of the six report a higher median household income than Carroll County; Ogle County is highest at $82,132 and Stephenson County lowest at $64,043. The list crosses into Iowa, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carroll County | - | $60,758 | $818/mo | 77% |
| Whiteside County, IL | 22 mi | $67,500 | $856/mo | 77% |
| Stephenson County, IL | 23 mi | $64,043 | $798/mo | 71% |
| Jo Daviess County, IL | 25 mi | $73,993 | $825/mo | 80% |
| Ogle County, IL | 31 mi | $82,132 | $936/mo | 75% |
| Clinton County, IA | 34 mi | $66,981 | $850/mo | 75% |
| Jackson County, IA | 34 mi | $74,186 | $807/mo | 81% |
Borrowing situations common in Carroll County
What the Carroll County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Fixed incomes. Carroll County's median age is 45.4. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Carroll County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
$5,063 a month: the Carroll County median budget
Carroll County's $60,758 median income, run through a debt-to-income check:
- Start: $5,063 gross per month ($60,758 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $818 uses 16%
- $1,005: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
A household below the $60,758 median has less room than this, often none.
More Carroll County figures
In Carroll County, 18% of adults have at least a four-year degree (38% in Illinois). Health coverage gaps: 5.8% of Carroll County residents are uninsured.
| Residents | Carroll County | Difference from Illinois | Difference from middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.8% | -20.1 pts | -4.4 pts |
| Work from home | 6.8% | -9.1 pts | -1.9 pts |
| No vehicle | 3.3% | -7.6 pts | -2.1 pts |
| Median age | 45.4 | +6.4 yrs | +3.9 yrs |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.1% | -2.8 pts | -1.3 pts |
| Poverty rate | 14.2% | +2.4 pts | +1.0 pts |
| No high school diploma | 11.1% | +1.6 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.8% | -1.1 pts | -2.1 pts |
| Commute length | Carroll County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 33.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.1% |
| 60+ min | 6.6% |
Lender oversight for Carroll County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Carroll County borrowers answers to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Nationally, Carroll County residents can file with the CFPB. See the Illinois state guide for the statewide picture.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Carroll County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Illinois.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Beyond Carroll County
No city in Carroll County has its own guide yet; the state page is next up.
Frequently asked questions
Is Carroll County a high-income county?
Its $60,758 median ranks 80th of 102 Illinois counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What is the median rent in Carroll County, IL?
$818 a month, utilities included, or $9,816 a year.
Is Chadwick covered?
Yes. Chadwick is one of 8 Census places in Carroll County, and this guide covers all of them.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Carroll County or elsewhere in Illinois, the same rules apply.
What agency protects Carroll County borrowers?
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation at the state level and the CFPB federally.