1st Advantage MortgageHancock County households have a median income of $65,865 and median rent of $782 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Population and place: Hancock County
- Hancock County's most unusual numbers
- Paychecks and income spread in Hancock County
- Hancock County industries and commutes
- Renting and owning in Hancock County
- Nearby counties: income, rent, ownership
- Hancock County towns compared
- Before borrowing in Hancock County
- Hancock County households compared
- What a median Hancock County budget can carry
- Illinois rules that apply in Hancock County
- Four steps for Hancock County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Population and place: Hancock County
Roughly 17,281 residents live in Hancock County, Illinois, 60th by population among the state's 102 counties and county equivalents. Its 794 square miles average 22 people per square mile, by the 2024 Census Gazetteer. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Hancock County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 16 Census places inside Hancock County, Hamilton leads by population with about 2,714; 15 of the 16 are incorporated.
Hancock County's most unusual numbers
Ranked against the other 101 county-level areas in Illinois, these are the Hancock County figures furthest from the middle.
- On median age, Hancock County sits near the top of Illinois at 46.9, 9th highest of 102. Retirement income counts when documented; favor loans with no prepayment penalty.
- Few Illinois counties match Hancock County on homeownership: 81% here, 67% for the state, ranking 18th highest of 102. Most households here own, so home equity is often an alternative to weigh.
- The housing vacancy rate: 15% in Hancock County. Only 19 of 102 Illinois counties are higher. Many empty units can point to seasonal housing.
Paychecks and income spread in Hancock County
Median household income in Hancock County: $65,865 (21% below Illinois, $83,390).
| Yearly household income | Hancock County | Gap to Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.6% | +5.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.8% | +7.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.9% | -4.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.7% | -9.1 pts |
27% under $35,000 and 29% at $100,000 or more: that is the Hancock County income split. Poverty rate, Hancock County: 12.3%; Illinois: 11.8%. None of these numbers decides a Hancock County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Hancock County industries and commutes
Top Hancock County industry by residents employed: education and health care, 23%; second, manufacturing, 15%. Hancock County over-indexes on agriculture, forestry and mining: 9% versus 1% in Illinois. The survey's unemployment rate for Hancock County averages 4.2% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.8%). 14% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home.
| Top industries | Hancock County share | +/- vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.0% | -0.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.4% | +3.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.0% | +2.7 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.7% | +7.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.8% | -7.0 pts |
| Construction | 5.3% | 0.0 pts |
Self-employed in Hancock County? Two years of tax returns usually stand in for pay stubs.
Renting and owning in Hancock County
Half of Hancock County renters pay more than $782 a month and half pay less; the Illinois midpoint is $1,274. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 40% in Hancock County, 48% statewide. Home values center on $113,800, or 1.7 years of median income. Owners occupy 81% of homes. The median home was built in 1964, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills. Against the median U.S. county, Hancock County rent is 11% below.
| Measure | Hancock County | Illinois | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $782/mo | $1,274/mo | 39% lower |
| Median home value | $113,800 | $263,300 | 57% lower |
| Owners | 81% | 67% | +14.2 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 48% | -7.7 pts |
| Burdened owners | 14% | 27% | -12.4 pts |
| Mobile homes | 6.0% | 2.3% | +3.8 pts |
Hancock County owners: get one secured and one unsecured quote, then compare the total cost and what you would put up as collateral (side by side).
Nearby counties: income, rent, ownership
Six nearby counties, 23 to 34 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Adams County leads the group on income ($66,220), Clark County trails ($51,781), and Hancock County out-earns 4 of the six. Some neighbors are in Iowa and Missouri. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Hancock County resident follows Illinois rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hancock County | - | $65,865 | $782/mo | 81% |
| Lee County, IA | 23 mi | $62,382 | $835/mo | 76% |
| McDonough County, IL | 26 mi | $52,795 | $761/mo | 63% |
| Adams County, IL | 29 mi | $66,220 | $828/mo | 72% |
| Clark County, MO | 30 mi | $51,781 | $612/mo | 78% |
| Henderson County, IL | 31 mi | $62,227 | $764/mo | 81% |
| Schuyler County, IL | 34 mi | $65,948 | $853/mo | 79% |
Hancock County towns compared
11,995 of Hancock County's 17,281 residents live in its 16 Census places (69%); the 14 largest are listed. Carthage has the highest median household income on the list ($77,004) and Augusta the lowest ($42,861), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in La Harpe ($491) and steepest in Hamilton ($941). This guide covers each of the 16 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton | city | 2,714 | $56,895 | $941 | 10 mi |
| Carthage | city | 2,291 | $77,004 | $680 | 2 mi |
| Warsaw | city | 1,518 | $58,750 | $838 | 14 mi |
| La Harpe | city | 1,273 | $49,205 | $491 | 16 mi |
| Nauvoo | city | 931 | $68,750 | $775 | 15 mi |
| Dallas City | city | 894 | $63,056 | $866 | 16 mi |
| Augusta | village | 669 | $42,861 | $592 | 16 mi |
| Bowen | village | 552 | $63,750 | $579 | 13 mi |
| Plymouth | village | 456 | $41,071 | $817 | 15 mi |
| West Point | village | 201 | $64,375 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Elvaston | village | 163 | $38,750 | n/a | 4 mi |
| Pontoosuc | village | 108 | $62,500 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Ferris | village | 105 | $43,125 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Basco | village | 59 | $40,000 | n/a | 5 mi |
Before borrowing in Hancock County
Hancock County-specific points to check:
- Fixed incomes. Hancock County's median age is 46.9. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
Hancock County households compared
College graduates make up 25% of the adult population. Uninsured, Hancock County: 5.7%; Illinois: 6.9%.
| People and households | Hancock County | Compared with Illinois | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.1% | -12.7 pts | +3.0 pts |
| Work from home | 7.5% | -8.3 pts | -1.1 pts |
| Median age | 46.9 | +7.9 yrs | +5.4 yrs |
| No vehicle | 5.4% | -5.6 pts | -0.1 pts |
| No high school diploma | 6.4% | -3.1 pts | n/a |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.2% | -1.6 pts | -0.2 pts |
| No health insurance | 5.7% | -1.1 pts | -2.1 pts |
| Poverty rate | 12.3% | +0.5 pts | -0.9 pts |
| Minutes to work | Hancock County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.5% |
| 60+ min | 5.9% |
What a median Hancock County budget can carry
Hancock County's $65,865 median income, run through a debt-to-income check:
- Monthly gross at the median, Hancock County: $5,489
- Less median rent of $782, which is 14% of it
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,194 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Illinois rules that apply in Hancock County
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation is the place to verify any lender's Illinois license. If a Hancock County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop. State-level detail for Hancock County borrowers is in the Illinois guide.
Four steps for Hancock County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Illinois.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Nearby and statewide guides
No city in Hancock County has its own guide yet; the state page is next up.
Frequently asked questions
Is $65,865 a good income in Hancock County?
It is the county median, so half of Hancock County households earn more and half less; 29% earn $100,000 or more.
Is Hancock County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $782 against $1,274 statewide, and 40% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Hancock County?
By population: Hamilton, Carthage, Warsaw, La Harpe, Nauvoo. The county has 16 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Hancock County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
What agency protects Hancock County borrowers?
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation at the state level and the CFPB federally.