1st Advantage MortgageIn Iroquois County, Illinois, the typical household earns $66,255 a year and the typical rent is $799. 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
- Iroquois County by the numbers
- What Iroquois County households earn
- Jobs and commutes in Iroquois County
- Housing costs in Iroquois County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Iroquois County
- How Iroquois County compares with nearby counties
- Budget math at the Iroquois County median
- What the numbers mean for Iroquois County borrowers
- More Iroquois County figures
- Checking a lender's license in Illinois
- Four steps for Iroquois County borrowers
- More guides for Iroquois County
- Frequently asked questions
Iroquois County by the numbers
Iroquois County is home to about 26,449 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 51st most populous of 102 county-level areas in Illinois. Land area is 1,117 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 24 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Iroquois County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 20 Census places inside Iroquois County, Watseka leads by population with about 4,780; 20 of the 20 are incorporated.
What Iroquois County households earn
Half of Iroquois County households take in less than $66,255 a year and half take in more, 21% below the Illinois median of $83,390. Only 53 Illinois counties post a higher median.
| Band | Iroquois County | Compared with Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.2% | +4.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.9% | +6.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.1% | -2.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.8% | -9.0 pts |
Some 25% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 31% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 12.5%, 1 point higher than the state's 11.8%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.434 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Iroquois County median.
Jobs and commutes in Iroquois County
The biggest employer of Iroquois County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by manufacturing (13%). Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 8% of workers here, versus 1% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 17% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 4.5% of the total (11.0% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Iroquois County | Gap to Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.7% | +1.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.6% | +1.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.8% | +1.5 pts |
| Construction | 8.2% | +2.9 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 7.6% | +6.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.9% | -1.1 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Housing costs in Iroquois County
Renters in Iroquois County pay a median of $799 a month, 37% below the Illinois figure of $1,274. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 43% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $137,800, about 2.1 times the median household income. 80% of Iroquois County households own their home and 20% rent. Median construction year: 1960.
| Home costs | Iroquois County | Illinois | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $799/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $137,800 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 27% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 11% | 8% | n/a |
Because most Iroquois 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 Iroquois County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 20 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 64% of Iroquois County residents live in one of the 20. Clifton has the highest median household income on the list ($92,344) and Watseka the lowest ($43,608), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $716 in Milford to $1,523 in Danforth. Live in one of these Iroquois County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watseka | city | 4,780 | $43,608 | $790 | 6 mi |
| Gilman | city | 1,612 | $70,750 | $733 | 9 mi |
| Onarga | village | 1,430 | $78,352 | $941 | 10 mi |
| Clifton | village | 1,385 | $92,344 | $844 | 14 mi |
| Sheldon | village | 1,195 | $44,280 | $801 | 14 mi |
| Milford | village | 1,052 | $46,827 | $716 | 11 mi |
| Ashkum | village | 918 | $78,365 | $798 | 11 mi |
| Cissna Park | village | 903 | $56,667 | $745 | 13 mi |
| Danforth | village | 611 | $54,625 | $1,523 | 9 mi |
| Crescent City | village | 456 | $58,333 | $817 | 2 mi |
| Buckley | village | 422 | $53,500 | $838 | 15 mi |
| Martinton | village | 363 | $79,000 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Woodland | village | 297 | $51,932 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Beaverville | village | 289 | $51,000 | n/a | 17 mi |
How Iroquois County compares with nearby counties
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Iroquois County's, from 23 to 39 miles away. Income ranges from $62,439 in Ford County to $82,425 in Warren County; 4 of these neighbors top Iroquois County's median. Some neighbors are in Indiana. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Iroquois County resident follows Illinois rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iroquois County | - | $66,255 | $799/mo | 80% |
| Ford County, IL | 23 mi | $62,439 | $923/mo | 72% |
| Newton County, IN | 27 mi | $75,481 | $918/mo | 81% |
| Kankakee County, IL | 27 mi | $71,281 | $1,097/mo | 70% |
| Benton County, IN | 29 mi | $65,875 | $774/mo | 80% |
| Warren County, IN | 36 mi | $82,425 | $830/mo | 82% |
| Livingston County, IL | 39 mi | $73,790 | $880/mo | 74% |
Budget math at the Iroquois County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Iroquois County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Iroquois County: $5,521
- Rent at the median, $799, takes 14% of that
- Under a 35% cap, $1,932 total minus rent leaves $1,133
- $1,686: 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.
What the numbers mean for Iroquois County borrowers
Based on the Iroquois County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Iroquois County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Consolidating cards in Iroquois County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
More Iroquois County figures
Degree holders: 18% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 6.0%, against 6.9% for Illinois.
| Measure | Iroquois County | Illinois statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.4 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.2% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.9% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.0% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.5% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.5% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.5% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Iroquois County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 38.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.8% |
| 60+ min | 8.8% |
Checking a lender's license in Illinois
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Iroquois County, check the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Illinois guide.
Four steps for Iroquois County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Illinois borrowers.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
More guides for Iroquois County
For statewide rules and data, see the Illinois guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Iroquois County?
$66,255 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $83,390 for Illinois. It ranks 54th of 102 in the state.
How does Iroquois County rent compare with Illinois?
$799 locally versus $1,274 for the state, 37% below.
Which towns does the Iroquois County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 20 Census places: Watseka, Gilman, Onarga, Clifton, Sheldon.
Will a Iroquois 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 Iroquois 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.