1st Advantage MortgageAbout 85% of Jasper County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $74,755. 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
- Who lives in Jasper County
- Income in Jasper County compared with Illinois
- What it costs to live in Jasper County
- Employment and commuting in Jasper County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Jasper County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Jasper County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Borrowing situations common in Jasper County
- Debt-to-income at Jasper County's medians
- Checklist for Jasper County applicants
- Illinois rules that apply in Jasper County
- More guides for Jasper County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Jasper County
Jasper County is home to about 9,180 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 88th most populous of 102 county-level areas in Illinois. Land area is 495 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 19 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Newton is the biggest of its 8 Census places, at roughly 2,932 people (32% of the county total). With so few households sampled, Jasper County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Income in Jasper County compared with Illinois
The median household income in Jasper County is $74,755; statewide it is $83,390, so Jasper County runs 10% below Illinois as a whole. In the state ranking that is 26th of 102.
| Income band | Share in Jasper County | Difference from Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.0% | +1.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.5% | +5.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.7% | +1.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.8% | -8.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 36% of Jasper County households make $100,000 or more, and 22% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 11.1%, 1 point lower than the state's 11.8%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.406 here. For a borrower in Jasper County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
What it costs to live in Jasper County
Renters in Jasper County pay a median of $793 a month, 38% below the Illinois figure of $1,274. 28% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 6% spend half or more. Home values center on $125,500, or 1.7 years of median income. Owners occupy 85% of homes. Median construction year: 1975.
| Jasper County | Illinois | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $793/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $125,500 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 85% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 28% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 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).
Employment and commuting in Jasper County
By the Census industry count, 20% of employed Jasper County residents work in education and health care and 13% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 9% locally and 1% for Illinois. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 17% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Jasper County | Gap to Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.2% | -3.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.5% | +2.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.9% | +2.5 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.0% | +8.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.9% | +1.9 pts |
| Construction | 8.7% | +3.3 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Jasper County
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 42% of Jasper County residents live in one of the 8. No Jasper County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 8.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newton | city | 2,932 | $61,761 | $794 | 1 mi |
| Willow Hill | village | 304 | $36,591 | $625 | 7 mi |
| Ste. Marie | village | 281 | $86,250 | $283 | 8 mi |
| Wheeler | village | 130 | $20,568 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Yale | village | 66 | $37,917 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Hidalgo | village | 60 | $65,156 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Rose Hill | village | 54 | $41,250 | n/a | 7 mi |
| West Liberty | CDP | 43 | $35,556 | n/a | 11 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Jasper County's, from 19 to 30 miles away. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Jasper County; Effingham County is highest at $80,404 and Clay County lowest at $60,417.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jasper County | - | $74,755 | $793/mo | 85% |
| Cumberland County, IL | 19 mi | $73,327 | $772/mo | 84% |
| Richland County, IL | 21 mi | $62,455 | $805/mo | 74% |
| Crawford County, IL | 21 mi | $71,674 | $811/mo | 82% |
| Effingham County, IL | 24 mi | $80,404 | $733/mo | 78% |
| Clay County, IL | 25 mi | $60,417 | $735/mo | 79% |
| Clark County, IL | 30 mi | $72,927 | $861/mo | 80% |
Jasper County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 21% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 5.0%, against 6.9% for Illinois.
| People and households | Jasper County | Illinois | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.3 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.9% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.2% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.0% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.5% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.1% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.2% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Jasper County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 26.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.8% |
| 60+ min | 7.7% |
Borrowing situations common in Jasper County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Jasper County borrowers.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Debt-to-income at Jasper County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Jasper County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $74,755 a year is $6,230 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $793, or 13 cents of every gross dollar
- $1,450: what a 36% 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.
Checklist for Jasper County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Jasper County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Illinois rules that apply in Jasper County
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation is the place to verify any lender's Illinois license. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Illinois state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Jasper County
For statewide rules and data, see the Illinois guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Jasper County?
$74,755 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $83,390 for Illinois. It ranks 26th of 102 in the state.
Is Jasper County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $793 against $1,274 statewide, and 28% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Jasper County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 85% of Jasper County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Newton?
Yes, along with the other 7 Census places in Jasper County, such as Willow Hill, Ste. Marie, Wheeler.
Is the fit check different in Jasper County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.