1st Advantage MortgageThe median Jersey County household earns $80,361, and 9% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Getting oriented in Jersey County
- Household income in Jersey County
- Jobs and commutes in Jersey County
- What it costs to live in Jersey County
- Places inside Jersey County
- Regional comparison for Jersey County
- Debt-to-income at Jersey County's medians
- People and households in Jersey County
- What the numbers mean for Jersey County borrowers
- Before you sign
- Who licenses lenders for Jersey County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Jersey County
Jersey County is home to about 21,274 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 55th most populous of 102 county-level areas in Illinois. It covers 370 square miles of land, or about 58 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the St. Louis, MO-IL metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Jerseyville is the biggest of its 7 Census places, at roughly 7,445 people (35% of the county total).
Household income in Jersey County
The median household income in Jersey County is $80,361; statewide it is $83,390, so Jersey County runs 4% below Illinois as a whole.
| Household income | Jersey County | vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.8% | -0.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.2% | +5.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.5% | -0.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.5% | -4.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 37% of Jersey County households make $100,000 or more, and 21% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 8.8%, 3 points lower than the state's 11.8%. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Jobs and commutes in Jersey County
The biggest employer of Jersey County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by manufacturing (12%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 4% locally and 1% for Illinois. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.4% in Jersey County. 22% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 12% work from home.
| Where residents work | Jersey County | Difference from Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.1% | +1.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.5% | 0.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.0% | -1.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.8% | +0.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.6% | -4.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.7% | +0.6 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What it costs to live in Jersey County
Renters in Jersey County pay a median of $846 a month, 34% below the Illinois figure of $1,274. 40% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 20% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $171,900, about 2.1 times the median household income. 81% of Jersey County households own their home and 19% rent. The median home was built in 1975, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Housing | Jersey County | Illinois statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $846/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $171,900 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 27% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 20% | 8% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Jersey 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.
Places inside Jersey County
Here are the 7 most populous of the county's 7 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 54% of Jersey County residents live in one of the 7. Grafton has the highest median household income on the list ($105,417) and Jerseyville the lowest ($73,529), counting places with at least 500 residents. Live in one of these Jersey County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jerseyville | city | 7,445 | $73,529 | $869 | 3 mi |
| Brighton | village | 2,306 | $80,214 | $815 | 12 mi |
| Grafton | city | 734 | $105,417 | $629 | 8 mi |
| Elsah | village | 708 | $98,125 | $1,406 | 9 mi |
| Fieldon | village | 200 | $61,667 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Otterville | town | 126 | $65,991 | n/a | 3 mi |
| Fidelity | village | 71 | $44,063 | n/a | 12 mi |
Regional comparison for Jersey County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (17 to 31 miles). St. Charles County leads the group on income ($104,692), Greene County trails ($62,192), and Jersey County out-earns 3 of the six. The list crosses into Missouri, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jersey County | - | $80,361 | $846/mo | 81% |
| Calhoun County, IL | 17 mi | $93,203 | $583/mo | 89% |
| Greene County, IL | 19 mi | $62,192 | $754/mo | 78% |
| Macoupin County, IL | 27 mi | $70,805 | $801/mo | 78% |
| St. Charles County, MO | 27 mi | $104,692 | $1,370/mo | 81% |
| Madison County, IL | 30 mi | $75,793 | $1,024/mo | 74% |
| St. Louis County, MO | 31 mi | $82,936 | $1,209/mo | 69% |
Debt-to-income at Jersey County's medians
Here is the Jersey County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Jersey County: $6,697
- Housing at the median rent of $846 uses 13%
- $1,833: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
People and households in Jersey County
Degree holders: 23% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 5.0%, against 6.9% for Illinois.
| Measure | Jersey County | Illinois statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.7 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.6% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.9% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.0% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.7% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.7% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.8% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.4% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Jersey County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.9% |
| 60+ min | 10.3% |
What the numbers mean for Jersey County borrowers
Where the Jersey County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Keeping the car running. At 22% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Jersey County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Jersey County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- A Illinois license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Who licenses lenders for Jersey County residents
Jersey 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. The Illinois guide covers state rules in more detail.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Illinois guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Jersey County a high-income county?
Its $80,361 median ranks 18th of 102 Illinois counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Jersey County rent compare with Illinois?
$846 locally versus $1,274 for the state, 34% below.
I own my home in Jersey County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 81% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Jersey County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Jerseyville, Brighton, Grafton, Elsah, Fieldon and 2 more.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Jersey County or elsewhere in Illinois, the same rules apply.