1st Advantage MortgageMason County households have a median income of $62,845 and median rent of $802 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Mason County at a glance
- Rent, home values and ownership in Mason County
- What Mason County households earn
- Work, industries and travel time in Mason County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Mason County
- Mason County next to its neighbors
- A Mason County household budget, worked through
- What the numbers mean for Mason County borrowers
- Mason County households compared
- Lender oversight for Mason County
- Steps before you apply in Mason County
- More guides for Mason County
- Frequently asked questions
Mason County at a glance
Mason County is home to about 12,745 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 82nd most populous of 102 county-level areas in Illinois. It covers 539 square miles of land, or about 24 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Mason County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 10 places in the county (9 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Havana, with about 2,989 residents, or 23% of the county.
Rent, home values and ownership in Mason County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $802 in Mason County versus $1,274 statewide. 57% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 44% spend half or more. With a median value of $103,400, a typical Mason County house costs 1.6 times what the median household earns in a year. 82% of Mason County households own their home and 18% rent.
| Measure | Mason County | Illinois | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $802/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $103,400 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 57% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 27% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.2% | 2.3% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 13% | 8% | n/a |
Because most Mason County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral. High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
What Mason County households earn
The median household income in Mason County is $62,845; statewide it is $83,390, so Mason County runs 25% below Illinois as a whole. That places it 69th among Illinois's 102 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Mason County | Gap to Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.5% | +6.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.7% | +6.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.9% | -3.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.9% | -9.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 29% of Mason County households make $100,000 or more, and 27% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 14.8%, 3 points higher than the state's 11.8%. None of these numbers decides a Mason County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Work, industries and travel time in Mason County
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Mason County residents work in education and health care and 13% in manufacturing. Compared with Illinois, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (6% against 1%). Averaged over the five survey years, 4.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 83% drive to work alone and 26% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 7.9% of the total (11.0% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Mason County workers | vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.6% | +0.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.9% | +1.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.6% | +1.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.6% | +0.6 pts |
| Public administration | 7.5% | +3.6 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.0% | -0.4 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.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Mason County
10 Census places fall mainly inside Mason County; the 10 biggest are below. They account for 8,569 residents, leaving about 33% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $41,184 in Havana to $71,920 in Manito. Rent is cheapest in Havana ($625) and steepest in Mason City ($767). None of the 10 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Havana | city | 2,989 | $41,184 | $625 | 9 mi |
| Mason City | city | 2,159 | $66,524 | $767 | 12 mi |
| Manito | village | 1,692 | $71,920 | $741 | 14 mi |
| San Jose | village | 557 | $55,809 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Easton | village | 285 | $61,250 | $759 | 4 mi |
| Kilbourne | village | 268 | $44,107 | $775 | 8 mi |
| Bath | village | 224 | $47,500 | $835 | 13 mi |
| Forest City | village | 223 | $87,813 | $937 | 10 mi |
| Goofy Ridge | CDP | 125 | $38,750 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Topeka | village | 47 | $77,500 | n/a | 7 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Mason County next to its neighbors
Distances run center to center, from Menard County at 16 miles out to Sangamon County at 36. Income ranges from $60,599 in Fulton County to $82,176 in Menard County; 5 of these neighbors top Mason County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mason County | - | $62,845 | $802/mo | 82% |
| Menard County, IL | 16 mi | $82,176 | $885/mo | 79% |
| Fulton County, IL | 22 mi | $60,599 | $785/mo | 77% |
| Cass County, IL | 26 mi | $68,125 | $723/mo | 76% |
| Tazewell County, IL | 28 mi | $77,982 | $909/mo | 78% |
| Logan County, IL | 30 mi | $66,358 | $829/mo | 68% |
| Sangamon County, IL | 36 mi | $75,357 | $983/mo | 71% |
A Mason County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Mason County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Mason County: $5,237
- Median rent: $802, or 15 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 40% cap, $2,095 total minus rent leaves $1,293
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Mason County's.
What the numbers mean for Mason County borrowers
Where the Mason County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Vehicle repairs. 26% of Mason County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Fixed incomes. Mason County's median age is 45.4. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Rent squeeze. 57% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Mason County households compared
17% of Mason County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 3.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Mason County | Illinois | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.4 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.1% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.0% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.9% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.9% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.8% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.9% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Mason County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 34.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 16.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 13.4% |
| 60+ min | 12.3% |
Lender oversight for Mason County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Mason County resident can confirm its license with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Illinois guide.
Steps before you apply in Mason County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Illinois borrowers.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
More guides for Mason County
For statewide rules and data, see the Illinois guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Mason County household make?
About $62,845 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 25% below the Illinois median.
How does Mason County rent compare with Illinois?
$802 locally versus $1,274 for the state, 37% below.
Should Mason County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 82% of Mason 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 Havana?
Yes, along with the other 9 Census places in Mason County, such as Mason City, Manito, San Jose.
Are Mason 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.