1st Advantage MortgageMassac County households have a median income of $65,116 and median rent of $756 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- A quick profile of Massac County
- Household income in Massac County
- Work, industries and travel time in Massac County
- What it costs to live in Massac County
- Regional comparison for Massac County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Massac County
- Who lives in Massac County, in numbers
- What the numbers mean for Massac County borrowers
- Room for a loan payment in Massac County
- Four steps for Massac County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in Illinois
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Massac County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Massac County's population at 13,865; only 74 of Illinois's 102 county-level areas are larger. Packed into 237 square miles, that is close to 58 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Paducah, KY-IL metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 3 Census places inside Massac County, Metropolis leads by population with about 5,864; 3 of the 3 are incorporated.
Household income in Massac County
At $65,116, the typical Massac County household income sits near the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 62nd of 102.
| Household income | Massac County | vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.5% | +6.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.5% | +9.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.8% | -5.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.2% | -10.6 pts |
About 27% of households earn under $35,000, while 26% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 16.3%, 4 points higher than the state's 11.8%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.421 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Massac County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Work, industries and travel time in Massac County
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Massac County residents work in education and health care and 12% in retail trade. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 7% locally and 1% for Illinois. The survey's unemployment rate for Massac County averages 3.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.8%). 7% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 5% work from home.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Massac County | Gap to Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.7% | -1.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.9% | +1.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 11.1% | +4.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.4% | +2.2 pts |
| Public administration | 8.6% | +4.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.5% | -4.0 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Massac County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
What it costs to live in Massac County
A typical Massac County rental runs $756 a month including utilities, which is 41% below Illinois. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 51% of renter households here. With a median value of $121,900, a typical Massac County house costs 1.9 times what the median household earns in a year. 76% of Massac County households own their home and 24% rent. Median construction year: 1975.
| Massac County | Illinois | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $756/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $121,900 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 27% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 20% | 8% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Massac 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. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Regional comparison for Massac County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (11 to 23 miles). 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Massac County; Ballard County is highest at $66,164 and Pulaski County lowest at $42,463. The list crosses into Kentucky, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massac County | - | $65,116 | $756/mo | 76% |
| McCracken County, KY | 11 mi | $64,373 | $898/mo | 69% |
| Pope County, IL | 17 mi | $60,050 | $449/mo | 86% |
| Livingston County, KY | 19 mi | $58,984 | $926/mo | 81% |
| Johnson County, IL | 19 mi | $62,528 | $781/mo | 82% |
| Ballard County, KY | 20 mi | $66,164 | $817/mo | 76% |
| Pulaski County, IL | 23 mi | $42,463 | $634/mo | 68% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Massac County
3 Census places fall mainly inside Massac County; the 3 biggest are below. They account for 6,856 residents, leaving about 51% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. This guide covers each of the 3 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metropolis | city | 5,864 | $50,399 | $752 | 5 mi |
| Brookport | city | 733 | $38,000 | $843 | 8 mi |
| Joppa | village | 259 | $41,563 | $754 | 8 mi |
Who lives in Massac County, in numbers
Degree holders: 17% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 7.8%, against 6.9% for Illinois.
| People and households | Massac County | Illinois | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.7 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.0% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.3% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.8% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.1% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.3% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.3% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.8% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 35.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 36.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.8% |
| 60+ min | 2.9% |
What the numbers mean for Massac County borrowers
What the Massac County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Manufactured homes. 14% of Massac County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Renters under pressure. When 51% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
Room for a loan payment in Massac County
How much room does a median Massac County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $5,426 a month: gross income for a household at the Massac County median
- Housing at the median rent of $756 uses 14%
- With a 40% ceiling, about $1,415 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Four steps for Massac County borrowers
Quick steps for Massac County:
- Price the Massac County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Verify the Illinois license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask a Massac County credit union about member loans.
Checking a lender's license in Illinois
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Massac County borrowers answers to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Illinois: Illinois personal loans.
Related local guides
The Illinois guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Massac County household make?
About $65,116 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 22% below the Illinois median.
How does Massac County rent compare with Illinois?
$756 locally versus $1,274 for the state, 41% below.
I live in a small Massac County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Metropolis, Brookport, Joppa.
Will a Massac County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Illinois as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Massac County residents?
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation licenses consumer lenders in Illinois; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.