1st Advantage MortgageAbout 82% of Crawford County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $71,674. 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
- Crawford County by the numbers
- Jobs and commutes in Crawford County
- Paychecks and income spread in Crawford County
- Crawford County housing compared with Illinois
- Crawford County next to its neighbors
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Crawford County
- Budget math at the Crawford County median
- More Crawford County figures
- Borrowing situations common in Crawford County
- Steps before you apply in Crawford County
- Who licenses lenders for Crawford County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Crawford County by the numbers
Roughly 18,511 residents live in Crawford County, Illinois, 59th by population among the state's 102 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 444 square miles, that works out to roughly 41.7 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Crawford County is not part of any metropolitan area. Robinson is the biggest of its 8 Census places, at roughly 7,084 people (38% of the county total).
Jobs and commutes in Crawford County
Education and health care employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 19%. Manufacturing stands out: 19% of workers here, versus 11% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Crawford County averages 3.0% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.8%). About 85% drive to work alone and 9% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 6.1% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Crawford County | Compared with Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.8% | +2.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 19.4% | +7.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.3% | -1.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.5% | +0.3 pts |
| Public administration | 5.9% | +2.1 pts |
| Other services | 5.9% | +1.3 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Crawford County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Paychecks and income spread in Crawford County
At $71,674, the typical Crawford County household income is 9% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 38th among Illinois's 102 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Crawford County | +/- vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.4% | +4.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.1% | +3.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.4% | -0.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.1% | -7.7 pts |
Some 25% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 34% have six-figure incomes. 12.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.8%). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Crawford County median.
Crawford County housing compared with Illinois
Renters in Crawford County pay a median of $811 a month, 36% below the Illinois figure of $1,274. 36% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 19% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $121,100, about 1.7 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 82%. Half the housing stock was built before 1965.
| Housing | Crawford County | Illinois statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $811/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $121,100 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 36% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 12% | 27% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.5% | 2.3% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 11% | 8% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Crawford 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.
Crawford County next to its neighbors
Sullivan County is closest, 19 miles from center to center; the sixth, Knox County, is 28 miles off. Jasper County leads the group on income ($74,755), Lawrence County trails ($55,324), and Crawford County out-earns 4 of the six. The list crosses into Indiana, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crawford County | - | $71,674 | $811/mo | 82% |
| Sullivan County, IN | 19 mi | $56,204 | $829/mo | 76% |
| Lawrence County, IL | 20 mi | $55,324 | $836/mo | 72% |
| Jasper County, IL | 21 mi | $74,755 | $793/mo | 85% |
| Clark County, IL | 23 mi | $72,927 | $861/mo | 80% |
| Richland County, IL | 27 mi | $62,455 | $805/mo | 74% |
| Knox County, IN | 28 mi | $61,237 | $796/mo | 68% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Crawford County
The table lists the 8 largest of 8 Census places in Crawford County, by population. Together all 8 hold about 11,302 people, so roughly 39% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $73,993 at the median in Robinson, $55,982 in Hutsonville. Rent is cheapest in Oblong ($542) and steepest in Robinson ($907). None of the 8 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robinson | city | 7,084 | $73,993 | $907 | 2 mi |
| Oblong | village | 1,634 | $57,917 | $542 | 8 mi |
| Palestine | village | 1,430 | $62,850 | $719 | 8 mi |
| Hutsonville | village | 590 | $55,982 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Flat Rock | village | 337 | $51,667 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Stoy | village | 90 | $61,875 | n/a | 4 mi |
| West York | CDP | 83 | $91,136 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Annapolis | CDP | 54 | $72,500 | n/a | 10 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Budget math at the Crawford County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Crawford County's medians:
- $5,973 a month: gross income for a household at the Crawford County median
- 14% goes to median rent ($811)
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,339 a month
If your rent is above $811, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
More Crawford County figures
21% of Crawford County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 5.3%, against 6.9% for Illinois.
| Residents | Crawford County | Illinois | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.6 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.6% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.5% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.3% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.1% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.7% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.1% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.0% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 54.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 9.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.8% |
| 60+ min | 5.0% |
Borrowing situations common in Crawford County
What the Crawford County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Steps before you apply in Crawford County
A short checklist for Crawford County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Who licenses lenders for Crawford County residents
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation is the place to verify any lender's Illinois license. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Illinois guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Illinois guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Crawford County a high-income county?
Its $71,674 median ranks 38th of 102 Illinois counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Crawford County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $811 against $1,274 statewide, and 36% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Crawford County?
By population: Robinson, Oblong, Palestine, Hutsonville, Flat Rock. The county has 8 Census places in all.
Will a Crawford County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Illinois as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Crawford County?
Start with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.