1st Advantage MortgageHardin County households have a median income of $54,271 and median rent of $379 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
- Hardin County by the numbers
- Hardin County housing compared with Illinois
- Income in Hardin County compared with Illinois
- The Hardin County job picture
- Hardin County next to its neighbors
- The communities that make up Hardin County
- What a median Hardin County budget can carry
- People and households in Hardin County
- What the numbers mean for Hardin County borrowers
- Licensing and complaints for Hardin County
- A Hardin County borrower's checklist
- More guides for Hardin County
- Frequently asked questions
Hardin County by the numbers
Roughly 3,605 residents live in Hardin County, Illinois, 102nd by population among the state's 102 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 177 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 20 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Hardin County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 3 places in the county (3 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Rosiclare, with about 961 residents, or 27% of the county. With so few households sampled, Hardin County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Hardin County housing compared with Illinois
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $379 in Hardin County versus $1,274 statewide. 8% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 5% spend half or more. Home values center on $103,800, or 1.9 years of median income. 80% of Hardin County households own their home and 20% rent. Median construction year: 1974.
| Measure | Hardin County | Illinois | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $379/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $103,800 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 8% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 27% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 34% | 8% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Hardin 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.
Income in Hardin County compared with Illinois
At $54,271, the typical Hardin County household income is 17% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Yearly household income | Hardin County | Gap to Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 33.4% | +12.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 50.0% | +12.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 13.5% | -14.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.1% | -10.7 pts |
Some 33% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 17% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 11.0%, 1 point lower than the state's 11.8%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.406 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
The Hardin County job picture
Education and health care employs 42% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 13%. Compared with Illinois, the county leans toward education and health care (42% against 24%). Averaged over the five survey years, 2.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 82% drive to work alone and 22% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 9.0% of the total (11.0% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Hardin County workers | vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 41.9% | +18.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.4% | +3.0 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.6% | +8.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 6.8% | -4.7 pts |
| Construction | 6.1% | +0.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.4% | -7.4 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Hardin County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Hardin County next to its neighbors
Six nearby counties, 14 to 22 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $46,656 in Crittenden County to $60,327 in Union County; 4 of these neighbors top Hardin County's median. The list crosses into Kentucky, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardin County | - | $54,271 | $379/mo | 80% |
| Crittenden County, KY | 14 mi | $46,656 | $714/mo | 78% |
| Pope County, IL | 17 mi | $60,050 | $449/mo | 86% |
| Gallatin County, IL | 17 mi | $59,219 | $541/mo | 77% |
| Union County, KY | 20 mi | $60,327 | $790/mo | 70% |
| Livingston County, KY | 22 mi | $58,984 | $926/mo | 81% |
| Saline County, IL | 22 mi | $53,117 | $726/mo | 73% |
The communities that make up Hardin County
Here are the 3 most populous of the county's 3 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 43% of Hardin County residents live in one of the 3. None of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rosiclare | city | 961 | $43,725 | $440 | 8 mi |
| Elizabethtown | village | 396 | $23,077 | $241 | 5 mi |
| Cave-In-Rock | village | 210 | $29,250 | $490 | 6 mi |
What a median Hardin County budget can carry
Hardin County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $4,523 a month: gross income for a household at the Hardin County median
- Less median rent of $379, which is 8% of it
- With a 35% ceiling, about $1,204 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- With a 45% ceiling, about $1,656 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
People and households in Hardin County
College graduates make up 13% of the adult population. 3.7% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Hardin County | Illinois | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.6 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 13.3% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.1% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.7% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.0% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 2.2% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.0% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.8% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Hardin County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 35.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 15.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 26.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.5% |
| 60+ min | 15.9% |
What the numbers mean for Hardin County borrowers
Where the Hardin County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Keeping the car running. At 22% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Hardin County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Mobile home upkeep. 18% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Retirees. At a median age of 53.6, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
Licensing and complaints for Hardin County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Hardin County resident can confirm its license with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Illinois state guide for the statewide picture.
A Hardin County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Hardin County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Hardin County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- A Illinois license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
More guides for Hardin County
For statewide rules and data, see the Illinois guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Hardin County?
$54,271 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $83,390 for Illinois. It ranks 97th of 102 in the state.
What do renters pay in Hardin County?
$379 a month at the median, about 8% of median household income.
Which towns does the Hardin County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 3 Census places: Rosiclare, Elizabethtown, Cave-In-Rock.
Will a Hardin 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 regulates personal lenders for Hardin County residents?
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation licenses consumer lenders in Illinois; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.