1st Advantage MortgageThe median Cumberland County household earns $73,327, and 9% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Illinois license first.
On this page
- A quick profile of Cumberland County
- What Cumberland County households earn
- Housing costs in Cumberland County
- Jobs and commutes in Cumberland County
- Cumberland County next to its neighbors
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Cumberland County
- Room for a loan payment in Cumberland County
- People and households in Cumberland County
- Borrowing situations common in Cumberland County
- Checklist for Cumberland County applicants
- Lender oversight for Cumberland County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Cumberland County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Cumberland County's population at 10,334; only 86 of Illinois's 102 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 346 square miles, that works out to roughly 29.9 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 7 Census places inside Cumberland County, Greenup leads by population with about 1,823; 5 of the 7 are incorporated.
What Cumberland County households earn
The median household income in Cumberland County is $73,327; statewide it is $83,390, so Cumberland County runs 12% below Illinois as a whole. Only 30 Illinois counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Cumberland County | +/- vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.7% | +1.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.7% | +6.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.9% | +1.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.6% | -10.2 pts |
About 23% of households earn under $35,000, while 34% clear $100,000. Census counts 9.1% of Cumberland County residents in poverty, against 11.8% across Illinois. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.401 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $73,327 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Housing costs in Cumberland County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $772 in Cumberland County versus $1,274 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 36% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $126,000, about 1.7 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 84%. Half the housing stock was built before 1970.
| Housing | Cumberland County | Illinois statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $772/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $126,000 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 84% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 36% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 13% | 27% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 12% | 8% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Cumberland 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.
Jobs and commutes in Cumberland County
Education and health care employs 22% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 15%. The sharpest difference from the state is in retail trade, at 15% locally and 10% for Illinois. Averaged over the five survey years, 1.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 10% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Sector | Cumberland County | Compared with Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.3% | -1.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 15.1% | +4.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.8% | +2.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.4% | +0.2 pts |
| Construction | 7.3% | +2.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.1% | -6.8 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Cumberland County next to its neighbors
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (17 to 32 miles). 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Cumberland County; Effingham County is highest at $80,404 and Coles County lowest at $56,478.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cumberland County | - | $73,327 | $772/mo | 84% |
| Coles County, IL | 17 mi | $56,478 | $780/mo | 60% |
| Jasper County, IL | 19 mi | $74,755 | $793/mo | 85% |
| Clark County, IL | 24 mi | $72,927 | $861/mo | 80% |
| Effingham County, IL | 24 mi | $80,404 | $733/mo | 78% |
| Shelby County, IL | 31 mi | $72,095 | $814/mo | 78% |
| Crawford County, IL | 32 mi | $71,674 | $811/mo | 82% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Cumberland County
Here are the 7 most populous of the county's 7 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 49% of Cumberland County residents live in one of the 7. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $51,417 in Greenup to $73,355 in Neoga. Median rent ranges from $732 in Greenup to $916 in Neoga. Live in one of these Cumberland County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenup | village | 1,823 | $51,417 | $732 | 5 mi |
| Neoga | city | 1,421 | $73,355 | $916 | 12 mi |
| Toledo | village | 1,197 | $56,354 | $909 | 0 mi |
| Montrose | village | 255 | $60,625 | $392 | 10 mi |
| Jewett | village | 251 | $52,708 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Trilla | CDP | 122 | $123,125 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Janesville | CDP | 39 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Room for a loan payment in Cumberland County
Here is the Cumberland County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Cumberland County: $6,111
- 13% goes to median rent ($772)
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,428 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- Under a 43% cap, $2,628 total minus rent leaves $1,856
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Cumberland County's.
People and households in Cumberland County
Degree holders: 20% of adults over 25. 5.3% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Cumberland County | All of Illinois | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.1 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.6% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.9% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.3% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.8% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.5% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.1% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.4% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 38.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.2% |
| 60+ min | 5.4% |
Borrowing situations common in Cumberland County
A few patterns in the Cumberland County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Consolidating cards in Cumberland County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Checklist for Cumberland County applicants
A short checklist for Cumberland County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Verify the Illinois license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Lender oversight for Cumberland County
Consumer lenders serving Cumberland County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Illinois that is the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Illinois state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Illinois guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Cumberland County earn?
The median is $73,327; 34% earn $100,000 or more and 23% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Cumberland County rent compare with Illinois?
$772 locally versus $1,274 for the state, 39% below.
Should Cumberland County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 84% of Cumberland 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 Greenup?
Yes, along with the other 6 Census places in Cumberland County, such as Neoga, Toledo, Montrose.
Is the fit check different in Cumberland County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.