1st Advantage MortgageThe median Clark County household earns $72,927, and 9% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Getting oriented in Clark County
- Income in Clark County compared with Illinois
- Renting and owning in Clark County
- The Clark County job picture
- Regional comparison for Clark County
- Clark County towns compared
- Room for a loan payment in Clark County
- People and households in Clark County
- What the numbers mean for Clark County borrowers
- Before you sign
- Checking a lender's license in Illinois
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Clark County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Clark County's population at 15,266; only 70 of Illinois's 102 county-level areas are larger. It covers 501 square miles of land, or about 30 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Clark County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Marshall is the biggest of its 5 Census places, at roughly 4,040 people (26% of the county total).
Income in Clark County compared with Illinois
Half of Clark County households take in less than $72,927 a year and half take in more, 13% below the Illinois median of $83,390.
| Yearly household income | Clark County | Gap to Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.6% | +2.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.4% | +7.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.1% | -1.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.9% | -8.9 pts |
Some 24% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 32% have six-figure incomes. 9.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.8%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.416 here. For a borrower in Clark 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.
Renting and owning in Clark County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $861 in Clark County versus $1,274 statewide. By the Census definition, 47% of Clark County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $132,400, a typical Clark County house costs 1.8 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 80% of homes. The median home was built in 1971, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Housing | Clark County | Illinois statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $861/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $132,400 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 27% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 6.6% | 2.3% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 10% | 8% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
The Clark County job picture
The biggest employer of Clark County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 24% of workers, followed by manufacturing (19%). Manufacturing stands out: 19% of workers here, versus 11% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.7% in Clark County. 14% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 5% work from home. 5.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Clark County | Gap to Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.9% | +0.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.6% | +7.1 pts |
| Construction | 12.2% | +6.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.7% | -1.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.7% | -6.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 5.2% | +4.2 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Clark County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Regional comparison for Clark County
Six nearby counties, 22 to 26 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $52,976 in Vigo County to $73,327 in Cumberland County; 1 of these neighbors top Clark County's median. Some neighbors are in Indiana. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Clark County resident follows Illinois rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clark County | - | $72,927 | $861/mo | 80% |
| Vigo County, IN | 22 mi | $52,976 | $924/mo | 62% |
| Crawford County, IL | 23 mi | $71,674 | $811/mo | 82% |
| Edgar County, IL | 24 mi | $59,941 | $775/mo | 73% |
| Cumberland County, IL | 24 mi | $73,327 | $772/mo | 84% |
| Coles County, IL | 26 mi | $56,478 | $780/mo | 60% |
| Sullivan County, IN | 26 mi | $56,204 | $829/mo | 76% |
Clark 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 53% of Clark County residents live in one of the 5. Incomes vary by place: $76,250 at the median in Marshall, $48,074 in Casey. Rent is cheapest in Martinsville ($593) and steepest in Marshall ($867). No Clark County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 5.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall | city | 4,040 | $76,250 | $867 | 7 mi |
| Casey | city | 2,239 | $48,074 | $713 | 11 mi |
| Martinsville | city | 1,187 | $61,833 | $593 | 5 mi |
| Westfield | village | 415 | $63,819 | $625 | 14 mi |
| West Union | CDP | 140 | $109,688 | n/a | 11 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Room for a loan payment in Clark County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Clark County's medians:
- $72,927 a year is $6,077 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $861 uses 14%
- $1,752: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
People and households in Clark County
25% of Clark County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 4.7%, against 6.9% for Illinois.
| People and households | Clark County | Illinois | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.6 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.9% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.5% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.7% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.2% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.1% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.7% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Clark County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 33.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.6% |
| 60+ min | 7.0% |
What the numbers mean for Clark County borrowers
Where the Clark County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Tight rental budgets. With 47% of Clark County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Clark County borrower sees (free reports).
Before you sign
A short checklist for Clark County borrowers:
- Price the Clark 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.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Checking a lender's license in Illinois
Clark County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Illinois: Illinois personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Illinois guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Clark County a high-income county?
Its $72,927 median ranks 33rd of 102 Illinois counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Clark County rent compare with Illinois?
$861 locally versus $1,274 for the state, 32% below.
I live in a small Clark County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Marshall, Casey, Martinsville, Westfield, West Union.
Are Clark County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Clark County?
Start with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.