1st Advantage MortgageThe median Livingston County household earns $73,790, and 11% 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
- A quick profile of Livingston County
- What Livingston County households earn
- Livingston County housing compared with Illinois
- Employment and commuting in Livingston County
- Regional comparison for Livingston County
- Towns and communities in Livingston County
- What a median Livingston County budget can carry
- People and households in Livingston County
- Reading the Livingston County data as a borrower
- Lender oversight for Livingston County
- Four steps for Livingston County borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Livingston County
Roughly 35,565 residents live in Livingston County, Illinois, 39th by population among the state's 102 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 1,044 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 34 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 13 places in the county (13 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Pontiac, with about 11,294 residents, or 32% of the county.
What Livingston County households earn
The median household income in Livingston County is $73,790; statewide it is $83,390, so Livingston County runs 12% below Illinois as a whole. That places it 30th among Illinois's 102 county-level areas.
| Household income | Livingston County | vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.5% | +0.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.6% | +5.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.6% | +1.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.4% | -7.5 pts |
Some 21% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 36% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 10.5%, 1 point lower than the state's 11.8%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.412 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $73,790 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Livingston County housing compared with Illinois
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $880 in Livingston County versus $1,274 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 35% of renter households here. With a median value of $142,200, a typical Livingston County house costs 1.9 times what the median household earns in a year. 74% of Livingston County households own their home and 26% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1961.
| Livingston County | Illinois | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $880/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $142,200 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 35% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 27% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 5.7% | 2.3% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 8% | 8% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Livingston 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.
Employment and commuting in Livingston County
The biggest employer of Livingston County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by manufacturing (14%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 7% locally and 1% for Illinois. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 12% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home.
| Top industries | Livingston County share | +/- vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.0% | -1.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.4% | +2.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.6% | +3.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.4% | -0.8 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 6.9% | +5.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.2% | -6.6 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Livingston County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Regional comparison for Livingston County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Livingston County's, from 27 to 39 miles away. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Livingston County; Grundy County is highest at $92,235 and Ford County lowest at $62,439.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Livingston County | - | $73,790 | $880/mo | 74% |
| Ford County, IL | 27 mi | $62,439 | $923/mo | 72% |
| Grundy County, IL | 29 mi | $92,235 | $1,177/mo | 74% |
| McLean County, IL | 32 mi | $79,905 | $1,009/mo | 65% |
| Woodford County, IL | 35 mi | $91,483 | $912/mo | 86% |
| LaSalle County, IL | 36 mi | $73,045 | $928/mo | 74% |
| Iroquois County, IL | 39 mi | $66,255 | $799/mo | 80% |
Towns and communities in Livingston County
13 Census places fall mainly inside Livingston County; the 13 biggest are below. They account for 20,766 residents, leaving about 42% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $83,558 at the median in Odell, $61,279 in Pontiac. Median rent ranges from $723 in Chatsworth to $943 in Odell. Live in one of these Livingston County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pontiac | city | 11,294 | $61,279 | $842 | 5 mi |
| Fairbury | city | 3,713 | $70,962 | $776 | 10 mi |
| Chatsworth | town | 1,172 | $69,559 | $723 | 18 mi |
| Forrest | village | 994 | $73,426 | $730 | 12 mi |
| Odell | village | 890 | $83,558 | $943 | 8 mi |
| Flanagan | village | 849 | $62,083 | $868 | 16 mi |
| Cullom | village | 471 | $65,417 | $969 | 15 mi |
| Cornell | village | 389 | $68,750 | $883 | 11 mi |
| Saunemin | village | 352 | $56,250 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Long Point | village | 245 | $66,250 | n/a | 19 mi |
| Campus | village | 172 | $111,406 | $975 | 16 mi |
| Emington | village | 131 | $91,250 | $950 | 11 mi |
| Strawn | village | 94 | $95,625 | n/a | 18 mi |
What a median Livingston County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Livingston County's medians:
- $73,790 a year is $6,149 of gross monthly income
- 14% goes to median rent ($880)
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,334 left for all other debt payments
- $1,764: what a 43% 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.
People and households in Livingston County
College graduates make up 19% of the adult population. 5.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Livingston County | All of Illinois | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.0% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.4% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.2% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.5% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.5% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.5% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 47.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.9% |
| 60+ min | 7.6% |
Reading the Livingston County data as a borrower
Where the Livingston County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Livingston County borrower sees (free reports).
Lender oversight for Livingston 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. More on Illinois: Illinois personal loans.
Four steps for Livingston County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Livingston County.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Illinois.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Illinois guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Livingston County household make?
About $73,790 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 12% below the Illinois median.
How does Livingston County rent compare with Illinois?
$880 locally versus $1,274 for the state, 31% below.
Should Livingston County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 74% of Livingston County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Livingston County?
By population: Pontiac, Fairbury, Chatsworth, Forrest, Odell. The county has 13 Census places in all.
Are Livingston County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.