1st Advantage MortgageGreene County households have a median income of $62,192 and median rent of $754 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Greene County at a glance
- Renting and owning in Greene County
- What Greene County households earn
- How Greene County residents earn a living
- Greene County towns compared
- How Greene County compares with nearby counties
- A Greene County household budget, worked through
- Borrowing situations common in Greene County
- Who lives in Greene County, in numbers
- Before you sign
- Who licenses lenders for Greene County residents
- More guides for Greene County
- Frequently asked questions
Greene County at a glance
Roughly 11,683 residents live in Greene County, Illinois, 84th by population among the state's 102 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 543 square miles, that works out to roughly 21.5 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Greene County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 9 places in the county (9 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Carrollton, with about 2,479 residents, or 21% of the county.
Renting and owning in Greene County
Renters in Greene County pay a median of $754 a month, 41% below the Illinois figure of $1,274. By the Census definition, 38% of Greene County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $95,200, or 1.5 years of median income. Owners occupy 78% of homes. The median home was built in 1957, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Housing | Greene County | Illinois statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $754/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $95,200 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 38% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 27% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 10.3% | 2.3% | 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).
What Greene County households earn
Half of Greene County households take in less than $62,192 a year and half take in more, 25% below the Illinois median of $83,390. That places it 76th among Illinois's 102 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Greene County | Gap to Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.0% | +7.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.2% | +5.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.9% | -4.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.0% | -7.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 30% of Greene County households make $100,000 or more, and 28% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 14.3%, 2 points higher than the state's 11.8%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.446 here. A household earning below the $62,192 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
How Greene County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Greene County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 26% of workers, followed by manufacturing (11%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 7% locally and 1% for Illinois. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 29% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 10% work from home. Households without a car make up 4.6% of the total (11.0% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Greene County | Gap to Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.5% | +2.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.2% | -0.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.9% | -0.5 pts |
| Construction | 7.5% | +2.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 7.3% | +6.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.3% | -0.9 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Greene County towns compared
The table lists the 9 largest of 9 Census places in Greene County, by population. Together all 9 hold about 8,095 people, so roughly 31% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $52,604 in Roodhouse to $71,250 in Greenfield. Rent is cheapest in White Hall ($644) and steepest in Greenfield ($853). This guide covers each of the 9 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carrollton | city | 2,479 | $60,455 | $779 | 4 mi |
| White Hall | city | 2,257 | $55,054 | $644 | 6 mi |
| Roodhouse | city | 1,544 | $52,604 | $683 | 9 mi |
| Greenfield | city | 1,105 | $71,250 | $853 | 10 mi |
| Kane | village | 201 | $54,375 | $858 | 12 mi |
| Eldred | village | 172 | $80,417 | $605 | 10 mi |
| Rockbridge | village | 146 | $98,125 | $1,313 | 11 mi |
| Hillview | village | 99 | $59,375 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Wilmington | village | 92 | $74,167 | n/a | 10 mi |
How Greene County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Jersey County at 19 miles out to Pike County at 33. Calhoun County leads the group on income ($93,203), Pike County trails ($59,777), and Greene County out-earns 1 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greene County | - | $62,192 | $754/mo | 78% |
| Jersey County, IL | 19 mi | $80,361 | $846/mo | 81% |
| Calhoun County, IL | 20 mi | $93,203 | $583/mo | 89% |
| Scott County, IL | 20 mi | $66,705 | $689/mo | 79% |
| Macoupin County, IL | 25 mi | $70,805 | $801/mo | 78% |
| Morgan County, IL | 27 mi | $66,306 | $722/mo | 73% |
| Pike County, IL | 33 mi | $59,777 | $676/mo | 78% |
A Greene County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Greene County's medians:
- Start: $5,183 gross per month ($62,192 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $754, takes 15% of that
- $1,060: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- $1,578: what a 45% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Borrowing situations common in Greene County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Greene County borrowers.
- Vehicle repairs. 29% of Greene County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Consolidating cards in Greene County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Greene County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Who lives in Greene County, in numbers
19% of Greene County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 4% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Greene County | Illinois | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.4 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.0% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.8% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.1% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.6% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.0% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.3% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.9% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Greene County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.5% |
| 60+ min | 17.2% |
Before you sign
Quick steps for Greene County:
- Price the Greene 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.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Who licenses lenders for Greene County residents
Greene County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Illinois state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Greene County
For statewide rules and data, see the Illinois guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Greene County earn?
The median is $62,192; 30% earn $100,000 or more and 28% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Greene County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $754 against $1,274 statewide, and 38% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Greene County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 78% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in Greene County?
By population: Carrollton, White Hall, Roodhouse, Greenfield, Kane. The county has 9 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Greene County or elsewhere in Illinois, the same rules apply.