1st Advantage MortgageIn Henderson County, Illinois, the typical household earns $62,227 a year and the typical rent is $764. 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 Henderson County
- How Henderson County residents earn a living
- Income in Henderson County compared with Illinois
- Housing costs in Henderson County
- Counties near Henderson County
- Henderson County towns compared
- More Henderson County figures
- Before borrowing in Henderson County
- What a median Henderson County budget can carry
- Four steps for Henderson County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in Illinois
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Henderson County
With an estimated 6,193 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Henderson County ranks 92nd of 102 in Illinois for population. It covers 379 square miles of land, or about 16 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 8 Census places inside Henderson County, Oquawka leads by population with about 1,059; 7 of the 8 are incorporated. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Henderson County figure on this page as a rough guide.
How Henderson County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Henderson County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 20% of workers, followed by manufacturing (17%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 8% locally and 1% for Illinois. The survey's unemployment rate for Henderson County averages 7.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.8%). Long commutes are common here: 17% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 4.4% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Henderson County | Difference from Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.4% | -3.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.7% | +5.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.8% | -0.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.3% | +2.2 pts |
| Public administration | 8.1% | +4.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.1% | +7.0 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Income in Henderson County compared with Illinois
Half of Henderson County households take in less than $62,227 a year and half take in more, 25% below the Illinois median of $83,390. In the state ranking that is 75th of 102.
| Household income | Henderson County | vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.7% | +9.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.1% | +2.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.1% | -1.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.2% | -11.6 pts |
Some 31% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 29% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 13.9% of Henderson County residents in poverty, against 11.8% across Illinois. A household earning below the $62,227 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Housing costs in Henderson County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $764 in Henderson County versus $1,274 statewide. By the Census definition, 32% of Henderson County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $104,400, a typical Henderson County house costs 1.7 times what the median household earns in a year. 81% of Henderson County households own their home and 19% rent. The median home was built in 1972, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Cost | Henderson County | Illinois figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $764/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $104,400 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 32% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 27% | 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).
Counties near Henderson County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Henderson County's, from 15 to 31 miles away. Income ranges from $52,795 in McDonough County to $74,182 in Mercer County; 5 of these neighbors top Henderson County's median. Some neighbors are in Iowa. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Henderson County resident follows Illinois rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henderson County | - | $62,227 | $764/mo | 81% |
| Des Moines County, IA | 15 mi | $62,928 | $904/mo | 75% |
| Warren County, IL | 17 mi | $67,385 | $788/mo | 75% |
| McDonough County, IL | 28 mi | $52,795 | $761/mo | 63% |
| Mercer County, IL | 29 mi | $74,182 | $786/mo | 84% |
| Lee County, IA | 30 mi | $62,382 | $835/mo | 76% |
| Hancock County, IL | 31 mi | $65,865 | $782/mo | 81% |
Henderson County towns compared
Here are the 8 most populous of the county's 8 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 55% of Henderson County residents live in one of the 8. No Henderson County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 8.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oquawka | village | 1,059 | $53,929 | $445 | 9 mi |
| Stronghurst | village | 949 | $59,375 | $894 | 5 mi |
| Lomax | village | 318 | $51,875 | $810 | 12 mi |
| Biggsville | village | 294 | $86,250 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Carman | CDP | 250 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
| Gladstone | village | 237 | $50,000 | $492 | 4 mi |
| Media | village | 153 | $76,607 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Raritan | village | 134 | $68,750 | $875 | 10 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
More Henderson County figures
21% of Henderson County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 2.6% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Henderson County | Illinois | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.2 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.6% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.1% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 2.6% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.4% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.2% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.9% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.8% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 22.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 40.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.1% |
| 60+ min | 5.8% |
Before borrowing in Henderson County
What the Henderson County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Manufactured homes. 13% of Henderson County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Older households. A 50.2 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
What a median Henderson County budget can carry
Henderson County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $62,227 a year is $5,186 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $764, or 15 cents of every gross dollar
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,103 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $764, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Four steps for Henderson County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Henderson County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Illinois borrowers.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Checking a lender's license in Illinois
Henderson County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by 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
Is Henderson County a high-income county?
Its $62,227 median ranks 75th of 102 Illinois counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Henderson County?
$764 a month at the median, about 15% of median household income.
Should Henderson County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 81% of Henderson County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Henderson County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 8 Census places: Oquawka, Stronghurst, Lomax, Biggsville, Carman.
Is the fit check different in Henderson County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.