1st Advantage MortgageThe median Edwards County household earns $60,519, and 16% 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
- Who lives in Edwards County
- Work, industries and travel time in Edwards County
- Paychecks and income spread in Edwards County
- Renting and owning in Edwards County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Edwards County
- Edwards County next to its neighbors
- Debt-to-income at Edwards County's medians
- Edwards County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before borrowing in Edwards County
- Licensing and complaints for Edwards County
- A Edwards County borrower's checklist
- More guides for Edwards County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Edwards County
Roughly 6,075 residents live in Edwards County, Illinois, 93rd by population among the state's 102 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 222 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 27 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Edwards County is not part of any metropolitan area. Albion is the biggest of its 5 Census places, at roughly 2,001 people (33% of the county total). Because Edwards County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Work, industries and travel time in Edwards County
Manufacturing employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 21%. Compared with Illinois, the county leans toward manufacturing (26% against 11%). The survey's unemployment rate for Edwards County averages 5.6% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.8%). 21% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 5% work from home.
| Industry | Share of Edwards County workers | vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 25.9% | +14.4 pts |
| Education and health care | 21.2% | -2.4 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 10.2% | +9.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.8% | -2.5 pts |
| Other services | 6.2% | +1.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.3% | -1.7 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Edwards County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Paychecks and income spread in Edwards County
At $60,519, the typical Edwards County household income is 8% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 81 Illinois counties post a higher median.
| Income band | Share in Edwards County | Difference from Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.4% | +7.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.4% | +10.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.4% | -8.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.7% | -9.1 pts |
Some 28% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 24% have six-figure incomes. 16.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.8%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.435 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Edwards County median.
Renting and owning in Edwards County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $811 in Edwards County versus $1,274 statewide. By the Census definition, 45% of Edwards County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $100,000, about 1.7 times the median household income. 79% of Edwards County households own their home and 21% rent.
| Home costs | Edwards County | Illinois | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $811/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $100,000 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 17% | 27% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 19.7% | 2.3% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 12% | 8% | n/a |
Because most Edwards County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Edwards County
5 Census places fall mainly inside Edwards County; the 5 biggest are below. They account for 4,687 residents, leaving about 23% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $46,319 in Grayville to $56,500 in Albion. None of the 5 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albion | city | 2,001 | $56,500 | $837 | 3 mi |
| Grayville | city | 1,590 | $46,319 | $677 | 12 mi |
| West Salem | village | 713 | $49,821 | $811 | 7 mi |
| Bone Gap | village | 220 | $51,042 | $480 | 3 mi |
| Browns | village | 163 | $57,500 | $600 | 4 mi |
Edwards County next to its neighbors
Wabash County is closest, 11 miles from center to center; the sixth, Lawrence County, is 27 miles off. Gibson County leads the group on income ($67,573), White County trails ($54,813), and Edwards County out-earns 4 of the six. Some neighbors are in Indiana. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Edwards County resident follows Illinois rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edwards County | - | $60,519 | $811/mo | 79% |
| Wabash County, IL | 11 mi | $57,086 | $794/mo | 76% |
| Richland County, IL | 20 mi | $62,455 | $805/mo | 74% |
| Wayne County, IL | 21 mi | $55,521 | $657/mo | 78% |
| White County, IL | 24 mi | $54,813 | $719/mo | 77% |
| Gibson County, IN | 26 mi | $67,573 | $935/mo | 77% |
| Lawrence County, IL | 27 mi | $55,324 | $836/mo | 72% |
Debt-to-income at Edwards County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Edwards County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $60,519 a year is $5,043 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $811 uses 16%
- Under a 43% cap, $2,169 total minus rent leaves $1,358
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Edwards County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 14% of adults over 25. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Edwards County | Illinois | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.7 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 13.9% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.1% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.0% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.9% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.5% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.6% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 39.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 23.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 14.8% |
| 60+ min | 5.9% |
Before borrowing in Edwards County
What the Edwards County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Long drives. With 21% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Edwards County budgets.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 20% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Rent squeeze. 45% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Licensing and complaints for Edwards County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Edwards County, check the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on Illinois: Illinois personal loans.
A Edwards County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- A Illinois license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
More guides for Edwards County
For statewide rules and data, see the Illinois guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Edwards County?
$60,519 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $83,390 for Illinois. It ranks 82nd of 102 in the state.
How does Edwards County rent compare with Illinois?
$811 locally versus $1,274 for the state, 36% below.
I live in a small Edwards County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Albion, Grayville, West Salem, Bone Gap, Browns.
Will a Edwards County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Illinois as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Where can someone in Edwards County check a lender's license?
With the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.