1st Advantage MortgageThe median Cass County household earns $68,125, and 11% of residents live below the poverty line. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Illinois before sharing details.
On this page
- Cass County at a glance
- Housing costs in Cass County
- Paychecks and income spread in Cass County
- How Cass County residents earn a living
- Regional comparison for Cass County
- Cass County towns compared
- Who lives in Cass County, in numbers
- What the numbers mean for Cass County borrowers
- Budget math at the Cass County median
- Checklist for Cass County applicants
- Illinois rules that apply in Cass County
- More guides for Cass County
- Frequently asked questions
Cass County at a glance
Roughly 12,784 residents live in Cass County, Illinois, 81st by population among the state's 102 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 376 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 34 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Cass County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 5 places in the county (5 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Beardstown, with about 6,169 residents, or 48% of the county.
Housing costs in Cass County
A typical Cass County rental runs $723 a month including utilities, which is 43% below Illinois. 29% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 13% spend half or more. With a median value of $97,100, a typical Cass County house costs 1.4 times what the median household earns in a year. 76% of Cass County households own their home and 24% rent.
| Cost | Cass County | Illinois figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $723/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $97,100 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 29% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 27% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Cass 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.
Paychecks and income spread in Cass County
The median household income in Cass County is $68,125; statewide it is $83,390, so Cass County runs 18% below Illinois as a whole. Only 45 Illinois counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Cass County | Gap to Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.5% | +4.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.0% | +9.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.9% | -5.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.6% | -9.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 28% of Cass County households make $100,000 or more, and 26% make less than $35,000. Census counts 11.1% of Cass County residents in poverty, against 11.8% across Illinois. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.416 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Cass County median.
How Cass County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 23% of employed Cass County residents work in manufacturing and 21% in education and health care. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 23% locally and 11% for Illinois. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 80% drive to work alone and 12% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 4.5% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Cass County workers | vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 22.7% | +11.2 pts |
| Education and health care | 20.7% | -2.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.7% | +0.4 pts |
| Construction | 7.3% | +1.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.2% | -0.8 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 6.0% | +4.9 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Regional comparison for Cass County
Morgan County is closest, 18 miles from center to center; the sixth, Brown County, is 27 miles off. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Cass County; Menard County is highest at $82,176 and Mason County lowest at $62,845.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cass County | - | $68,125 | $723/mo | 76% |
| Morgan County, IL | 18 mi | $66,306 | $722/mo | 73% |
| Schuyler County, IL | 23 mi | $65,948 | $853/mo | 79% |
| Menard County, IL | 24 mi | $82,176 | $885/mo | 79% |
| Mason County, IL | 26 mi | $62,845 | $802/mo | 82% |
| Scott County, IL | 26 mi | $66,705 | $689/mo | 79% |
| Brown County, IL | 27 mi | $67,917 | $698/mo | 72% |
Cass County towns compared
Here are the 5 most populous of the county's 5 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 75% of Cass County residents live in one of the 5. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $44,375 in Chandlerville to $68,060 in Ashland. Live in one of these Cass County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beardstown | city | 6,169 | $60,587 | $762 | 10 mi |
| Virginia | city | 1,543 | $59,375 | $700 | 2 mi |
| Ashland | village | 999 | $68,060 | $571 | 14 mi |
| Chandlerville | village | 534 | $44,375 | $1,005 | 7 mi |
| Arenzville | village | 342 | $80,750 | $900 | 9 mi |
Who lives in Cass County, in numbers
College graduates make up 21% of the adult population. About 8% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Cass County | Illinois statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.3 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.8% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.6% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.7% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.5% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.7% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.1% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.2% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Cass County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 48.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 21.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.9% |
| 60+ min | 4.7% |
What the numbers mean for Cass County borrowers
A few patterns in the Cass County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Budget math at the Cass County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Cass County's medians:
- $5,677 a month: gross income for a household at the Cass County median
- Housing at the median rent of $723 uses 13%
- At 40%, room after rent is $1,548 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Cass County's.
Checklist for Cass County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Cass County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Cass County-area credit union.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Illinois rules that apply in Cass County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Cass County borrowers answers to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Illinois guide.
More guides for Cass County
The Illinois guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cass County a high-income county?
Its $68,125 median ranks 46th of 102 Illinois counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Cass County?
$723 a month at the median, about 13% of median household income.
I own my home in Cass County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 76% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Cass County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Beardstown, Virginia, Ashland, Chandlerville, Arenzville.
Is the fit check different in Cass County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.