1st Advantage MortgageMontgomery County households have a median income of $63,620 and median rent of $723 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Montgomery County by the numbers
- How much Montgomery County households make
- Rent, home values and ownership in Montgomery County
- Employment and commuting in Montgomery County
- How Montgomery County compares with nearby counties
- The communities that make up Montgomery County
- A Montgomery County household budget, worked through
- Before borrowing in Montgomery County
- More Montgomery County figures
- Licensing and complaints for Montgomery County
- Steps before you apply in Montgomery County
- More guides for Montgomery County
- Frequently asked questions
Montgomery County by the numbers
Montgomery County is home to about 27,942 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 48th most populous of 102 county-level areas in Illinois. Spread over 704 square miles, that works out to roughly 39.7 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Montgomery County is not part of any metropolitan area. Litchfield is the biggest of its 18 Census places, at roughly 6,834 people (24% of the county total).
How much Montgomery County households make
The median household income in Montgomery County is $63,620; statewide it is $83,390, so Montgomery County runs 24% below Illinois as a whole. That places it 66th among Illinois's 102 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Montgomery County | +/- vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.2% | +8.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.6% | +3.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.4% | -2.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.9% | -9.0 pts |
Some 29% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 30% have six-figure incomes. 12.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.8%). A household earning below the $63,620 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Rent, home values and ownership in Montgomery County
Renters in Montgomery County pay a median of $723 a month, 43% below the Illinois figure of $1,274. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 46% of renter households here. With a median value of $112,300, a typical Montgomery County house costs 1.8 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 77%. The median home was built in 1964, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Measure | Montgomery County | Illinois | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $723/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $112,300 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 14% | 27% | n/a |
Because most Montgomery 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.
Employment and commuting in Montgomery County
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Montgomery County residents work in education and health care and 11% in retail trade. Compared with Illinois, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (7% against 1%). Averaged over the five survey years, 4.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 18% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home. 6.6% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Montgomery County workers | vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.4% | +0.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.4% | +1.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.7% | -2.8 pts |
| Construction | 8.2% | +2.9 pts |
| Public administration | 7.0% | +3.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 6.8% | +5.8 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.
How Montgomery County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Bond County at 24 miles out to Sangamon County at 38. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Montgomery County; Madison County is highest at $75,793 and Fayette County lowest at $60,944.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County | - | $63,620 | $723/mo | 77% |
| Bond County, IL | 24 mi | $65,959 | $785/mo | 77% |
| Macoupin County, IL | 24 mi | $70,805 | $801/mo | 78% |
| Christian County, IL | 24 mi | $62,611 | $785/mo | 75% |
| Fayette County, IL | 29 mi | $60,944 | $798/mo | 81% |
| Madison County, IL | 36 mi | $75,793 | $1,024/mo | 74% |
| Sangamon County, IL | 38 mi | $75,357 | $983/mo | 71% |
The communities that make up Montgomery County
18 Census places fall mainly inside Montgomery County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 21,018 residents, leaving about 25% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Coffeen has the highest median household income on the list ($72,500) and Taylor Springs the lowest ($45,000), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Witt ($578) and steepest in Raymond ($924). None of the 18 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Litchfield | city | 6,834 | $53,958 | $675 | 11 mi |
| Hillsboro | city | 5,803 | $50,158 | $715 | 4 mi |
| Nokomis | city | 2,147 | $60,326 | $814 | 11 mi |
| Raymond | village | 1,030 | $66,591 | $924 | 8 mi |
| Witt | city | 875 | $52,500 | $578 | 7 mi |
| Farmersville | village | 763 | $63,750 | $764 | 17 mi |
| Taylor Springs | village | 633 | $45,000 | $772 | 7 mi |
| Coffeen | city | 592 | $72,500 | $828 | 11 mi |
| Schram City | village | 578 | $51,250 | $743 | 5 mi |
| Coalton | village | 357 | $76,875 | $1,025 | 10 mi |
| Irving | village | 355 | $70,625 | $533 | 4 mi |
| Fillmore | village | 241 | $47,813 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Harvel | village | 201 | $61,250 | $759 | 9 mi |
| Butler | village | 194 | $51,927 | n/a | 4 mi |
A Montgomery County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Montgomery County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Montgomery County: $5,302
- 14% goes to median rent ($723)
- At 35%, room after rent is $1,133 a month
- Under a 45% cap, $2,386 total minus rent leaves $1,663
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Before borrowing in Montgomery County
What the Montgomery County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- 46% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
More Montgomery County figures
Degree holders: 18% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 4.5%, against 6.9% for Illinois.
| Residents | Montgomery County | Illinois | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.8 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.3% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.8% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.5% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.6% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.6% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.7% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Montgomery County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 45.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.1% |
| 60+ min | 10.8% |
Licensing and complaints for Montgomery County
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation is the place to verify any lender's Illinois license. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Illinois: Illinois personal loans.
Steps before you apply in Montgomery County
Quick steps for Montgomery County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
More guides for Montgomery County
The Illinois guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Montgomery County a high-income county?
Its $63,620 median ranks 66th of 102 Illinois counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Montgomery County?
$723 a month at the median, about 14% of median household income.
I own my home in Montgomery County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 77% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Montgomery County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 18 Census places: Litchfield, Hillsboro, Nokomis, Raymond, Witt.
Is the fit check different in Montgomery County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.