1st Advantage MortgageThe median Lawrence County household earns $55,324, and 14% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Lawrence County by the numbers
- What it costs to live in Lawrence County
- How much Lawrence County households make
- Jobs and commutes in Lawrence County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Lawrence County
- How Lawrence County compares with nearby counties
- Room for a loan payment in Lawrence County
- Lawrence County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before borrowing in Lawrence County
- Licensing and complaints for Lawrence County
- Checklist for Lawrence County applicants
- More guides for Lawrence County
- Frequently asked questions
Lawrence County by the numbers
Lawrence County is home to about 15,031 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 72nd most populous of 102 county-level areas in Illinois. Spread over 372 square miles, that works out to roughly 40.4 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 5 places in the county (5 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Lawrenceville, with about 3,941 residents, or 26% of the county.
What it costs to live in Lawrence County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $836 in Lawrence County versus $1,274 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 34% of renter households here. Home values center on $99,100, or 1.8 years of median income. Owners occupy 72% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1963.
| Measure | Lawrence County | Illinois | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $836/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $99,100 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 34% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 15% | 27% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 17.7% | 2.3% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 15% | 8% | n/a |
How much Lawrence County households make
At $55,324, the typical Lawrence County household income is 16% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Band | Lawrence County | Compared with Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.1% | +4.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.5% | +11.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.2% | -7.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.3% | -8.5 pts |
About 25% of households earn under $35,000, while 26% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 14.5%, 3 points higher than the state's 11.8%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.429 here. None of these numbers decides a Lawrence County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Jobs and commutes in Lawrence County
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Lawrence County residents work in education and health care and 15% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 6% locally and 1% for Illinois. Averaged over the five survey years, 8.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 7% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home. Only 5.7% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Lawrence County workers | vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.0% | -1.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.0% | +3.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.7% | -0.7 pts |
| Construction | 8.6% | +3.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.6% | +1.6 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.1% | -1.3 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 Lawrence County
5 Census places fall mainly inside Lawrence County; the 5 biggest are below. They account for 8,842 residents, leaving about 41% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $41,005 in Lawrenceville to $70,833 in St. Francisville. Rent is cheapest in Bridgeport ($675) and steepest in St. Francisville ($950). Live in one of these Lawrence County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrenceville | city | 3,941 | $41,005 | $782 | 2 mi |
| Sumner | city | 2,252 | $55,625 | $738 | 7 mi |
| Bridgeport | city | 1,826 | $53,036 | $675 | 2 mi |
| St. Francisville | city | 736 | $70,833 | $950 | 10 mi |
| Russellville | village | 87 | $47,813 | n/a | 13 mi |
How Lawrence County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 17 to 29 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. All of the six report a higher median household income than Lawrence County; Crawford County is highest at $71,674 and Wabash County lowest at $57,086. The list crosses into Indiana, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence County | - | $55,324 | $836/mo | 72% |
| Knox County, IN | 17 mi | $61,237 | $796/mo | 68% |
| Richland County, IL | 19 mi | $62,455 | $805/mo | 74% |
| Crawford County, IL | 20 mi | $71,674 | $811/mo | 82% |
| Wabash County, IL | 20 mi | $57,086 | $794/mo | 76% |
| Edwards County, IL | 27 mi | $60,519 | $811/mo | 79% |
| Gibson County, IN | 29 mi | $67,573 | $935/mo | 77% |
Room for a loan payment in Lawrence County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Lawrence County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $4,610 a month: gross income for a household at the Lawrence County median
- Less median rent of $836, which is 18% of it
- With a 36% ceiling, about $824 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,146 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $836, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Lawrence County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 15% of adults over 25. 6.6% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Lawrence County | All of Illinois | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.7 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.9% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.0% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.6% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.7% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.4% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.5% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 8.1% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Lawrence County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 38.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.7% |
| 60+ min | 4.8% |
Before borrowing in Lawrence County
Where the Lawrence County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- 18% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Licensing and complaints for Lawrence County
Consumer lenders serving Lawrence County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Illinois that is the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Illinois state guide for the statewide picture.
Checklist for Lawrence County applicants
Quick steps for Lawrence County:
- Price the Lawrence County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Illinois.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
More guides for Lawrence County
For statewide rules and data, see the Illinois guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lawrence County a high-income county?
Its $55,324 median ranks 95th of 102 Illinois counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Lawrence County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $836 a month; 34% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Lawrence County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 72% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Lawrence County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Lawrenceville, Sumner, Bridgeport, St. Francisville, Russellville.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Lawrence County or elsewhere in Illinois, the same rules apply.