1st Advantage MortgageIn Macoupin County, Illinois, the typical household earns $70,805 a year and the typical rent is $801. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Illinois license first.
On this page
- Who lives in Macoupin County
- The Macoupin County job picture
- Rent, home values and ownership in Macoupin County
- Macoupin County at the extremes
- Macoupin County income bands
- Macoupin County and the counties next door
- Macoupin County communities by population
- Borrowing situations common in Macoupin County
- Age, degrees and coverage in Macoupin County
- $5,900 a month: the Macoupin County median budget
- Steps before you apply in Macoupin County
- Illinois lender licensing
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Macoupin County
Macoupin County is home to about 44,350 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 32nd most populous of 102 county-level areas in Illinois. Macoupin County spans 863 square miles; with 44,350 people, that is 51.4 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the St. Louis, MO-IL metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Carlinville is the biggest of its 25 Census places, at roughly 5,480 people (12% of the county total).
The Macoupin County job picture
Top Macoupin County industry by residents employed: education and health care, 23%; second, retail trade, 12%. Relative to Illinois (1%), agriculture, forestry and mining is 3 points bigger in Macoupin County (5%). The survey's unemployment rate for Macoupin County averages 3.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.8%). 33% of Macoupin County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 22% need 45 or more. No car: 4.5% of Macoupin County households.
| Top industries | Macoupin County share | +/- vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.8% | -0.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.5% | +2.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.4% | -0.1 pts |
| Construction | 8.2% | +2.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.7% | -0.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.2% | +0.1 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Rent, home values and ownership in Macoupin County
Half of Macoupin County renters pay more than $801 a month and half pay less; the Illinois midpoint is $1,274. About 4 in 10 Macoupin County renters pay 30% or more of income for rent. Median value $138,200; median income $70,805; ratio 2.0. The ownership rate is 78%. Median construction year: 1966. Against the median U.S. county, Macoupin County rent is 9% below.
| Cost | Macoupin County | Illinois figure | Higher or lower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 78% | 67% | +11.4 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 38% | 48% | -9.6 pts |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 27% | -6.8 pts |
| Mobile homes | 8.1% | 2.3% | +5.8 pts |
| Median home value | $138,200 | $263,300 | 48% lower |
| Median gross rent | $801/mo | $1,274/mo | 37% lower |
In an owner-heavy county like Macoupin 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.
Macoupin County at the extremes
Out of every Illinois county, Macoupin County is most unusual on these measures.
- Macoupin County ranks 12th highest of 102 Illinois counties for the share of commutes over 45 minutes: 22%, against 20% statewide. Long drives make car repairs a common emergency; get two written quotes.
- On the housing vacancy rate, Macoupin County sits near the top of Illinois at 17%, 17th highest of 102. Many empty units can point to seasonal housing.
Macoupin County income bands
Half of Macoupin County households take in less than $70,805 a year and half take in more, 15% below the Illinois median of $83,390. Only 40 Illinois counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Macoupin County | vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.0% | +4.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.2% | +2.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.8% | +0.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.0% | -6.8 pts |
25% under $35,000 and 36% at $100,000 or more: that is the Macoupin County income split. The poverty rate is 13.1%, 1 point higher 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.
Macoupin County and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (24 to 37 miles). Macoupin County's $70,805 median trails 3 of the six and beats 3; the range runs $62,192 (Greene County) to $80,361 (Jersey County).
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macoupin County | - | $70,805 | $801/mo | 78% |
| Montgomery County, IL | 24 mi | $63,620 | $723/mo | 77% |
| Greene County, IL | 25 mi | $62,192 | $754/mo | 78% |
| Jersey County, IL | 27 mi | $80,361 | $846/mo | 81% |
| Madison County, IL | 30 mi | $75,793 | $1,024/mo | 74% |
| Morgan County, IL | 35 mi | $66,306 | $722/mo | 73% |
| Sangamon County, IL | 37 mi | $75,357 | $983/mo | 71% |
Macoupin County communities by population
The table lists the 14 largest of 25 Census places in Macoupin County, by population. Together all 25 hold about 23,708 people, so roughly 47% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $82,772 at the median in Gillespie, $45,417 in Wilsonville. Carlinville and every other Macoupin County community use this county guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlinville | city | 5,480 | $57,708 | $824 | 3 mi |
| Staunton | city | 4,298 | $57,904 | $630 | 19 mi |
| Gillespie | city | 2,815 | $82,772 | $750 | 11 mi |
| Mount Olive | city | 1,872 | $55,625 | $734 | 17 mi |
| Girard | city | 1,743 | $50,300 | $808 | 15 mi |
| Benld | city | 1,495 | $47,850 | $826 | 14 mi |
| Bunker Hill | city | 1,178 | $75,917 | $862 | 16 mi |
| Shipman | town | 618 | $56,771 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Wilsonville | village | 505 | $45,417 | $833 | 14 mi |
| Palmyra | village | 486 | $44,276 | $718 | 12 mi |
| East Gillespie | village | 367 | $63,500 | $868 | 11 mi |
| Medora | village | 316 | $76,750 | $636 | 13 mi |
| Royal Lakes | village | 301 | n/a | $280 | 11 mi |
| Mount Clare | village | 292 | $66,875 | $596 | 13 mi |
Borrowing situations common in Macoupin County
What the Macoupin County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Car trouble. For Macoupin County drivers (22% with 45-minute-plus trips), price the repair against the car's value first.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Macoupin County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Age, degrees and coverage in Macoupin County
College graduates make up 20% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 4.1%, against 6.9% for Illinois.
| Measure | Macoupin County | Gap to Illinois | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.3% | -17.6 pts | -1.9 pts |
| No vehicle | 4.5% | -6.5 pts | -1.0 pts |
| Work from home | 9.4% | -6.5 pts | +0.7 pts |
| Median age | 44.2 | +5.2 yrs | +2.7 yrs |
| No health insurance | 4.1% | -2.8 pts | -3.8 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.7% | -2.2 pts | -0.7 pts |
| Poverty rate | 13.1% | +1.3 pts | -0.1 pts |
| No high school diploma | 8.6% | -0.9 pts | n/a |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 12.5% |
| 60+ min | 9.6% |
$5,900 a month: the Macoupin County median budget
Macoupin County's $70,805 median income, run through a debt-to-income check:
- $5,900 a month: gross income for a household at the Macoupin County median
- Less median rent of $801, which is 14% of it
- Under a 43% cap, $2,537 total minus rent leaves $1,736
Two-income households and single earners in Macoupin County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Steps before you apply in Macoupin County
Quick steps for Macoupin County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Macoupin County.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the Illinois license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Illinois lender licensing
Consumer lenders serving Macoupin County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Illinois that is the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Illinois state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
No city in Macoupin County has its own guide yet; the state page is next up.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Macoupin County?
$70,805 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $83,390 for Illinois. It ranks 41st of 102 in the state.
How much is rent in Macoupin County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $801 a month; 38% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Macoupin County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 25 Census places: Carlinville, Staunton, Gillespie, Mount Olive, Girard.
Will a Macoupin County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Illinois as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
What agency protects Macoupin County borrowers?
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation at the state level and the CFPB federally.