1st Advantage MortgageOgle County households have a median income of $82,132 and median rent of $936 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Ogle County by the numbers
- Income in Ogle County compared with Illinois
- The Ogle County job picture
- What it costs to live in Ogle County
- The communities that make up Ogle County
- Ogle County next to its neighbors
- People and households in Ogle County
- Local borrowing considerations for Ogle County
- Debt-to-income at Ogle County's medians
- Checklist for Ogle County applicants
- Checking a lender's license in Illinois
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Ogle County by the numbers
With an estimated 51,495 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Ogle County ranks 28th of 102 in Illinois for population. Packed into 759 square miles, that is close to 68 residents for every square mile of land. No metropolitan area includes Ogle County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Rochelle is the biggest of its 17 Census places, at roughly 9,529 people (19% of the county total).
Income in Ogle County compared with Illinois
At $82,132, the typical Ogle County household income is 25% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 16th among Illinois's 102 county-level areas.
| Household income | Ogle County | vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.6% | -1.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.5% | +5.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.6% | +1.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.3% | -5.5 pts |
About 20% of households earn under $35,000, while 38% clear $100,000. 8.4% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.8%). A household earning below the $82,132 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
The Ogle County job picture
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Ogle County residents work in education and health care and 18% in manufacturing. Compared with Illinois, the county leans toward manufacturing (18% against 11%). The survey's unemployment rate for Ogle County averages 5.0% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.8%). 15% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home. Only 5.5% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Ogle County | Compared with Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.6% | +0.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 17.6% | +6.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.0% | +0.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.0% | +2.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.7% | -5.1 pts |
| Construction | 7.5% | +2.1 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What it costs to live in Ogle County
Renters in Ogle County pay a median of $936 a month, 27% below the Illinois figure of $1,274. 38% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 16% spend half or more. Home values center on $189,200, or 2.3 years of median income. 75% of Ogle County households own their home and 25% rent. Median construction year: 1972.
| Home costs | Ogle County | Illinois | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $936/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $189,200 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 38% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 27% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.5% | 2.3% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 8% | 8% | n/a |
Because most Ogle 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.
The communities that make up Ogle County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 17 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 63% of Ogle County residents live in one of the 17. Lost Nation has the highest median household income on the list ($108,964) and Mount Morris the lowest ($45,726), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Mount Morris ($512) and steepest in Stillman Valley ($1,307). None of the 17 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochelle | city | 9,529 | $66,307 | $985 | 16 mi |
| Oregon | city | 3,851 | $71,841 | $916 | 2 mi |
| Byron | city | 3,743 | $78,852 | $929 | 6 mi |
| Davis Junction | village | 2,757 | $107,833 | $1,250 | 13 mi |
| Mount Morris | village | 2,726 | $45,726 | $512 | 6 mi |
| Polo | city | 2,495 | $63,080 | $851 | 14 mi |
| Hillcrest | village | 1,824 | $80,568 | $1,295 | 14 mi |
| Forreston | village | 1,360 | $70,676 | $744 | 14 mi |
| Stillman Valley | village | 1,260 | $87,833 | $1,307 | 8 mi |
| Lost Nation | CDP | 714 | $108,964 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Creston | village | 550 | $66,667 | $988 | 19 mi |
| Leaf River | village | 477 | $79,500 | $917 | 7 mi |
| Monroe Center | village | 369 | $93,056 | $1,027 | 17 mi |
| Kings | CDP | 332 | $68,750 | $1,075 | 11 mi |
Ogle County next to its neighbors
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (20 to 32 miles). Boone County leads the group on income ($84,571), Carroll County trails ($60,758), and Ogle County out-earns 5 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ogle County | - | $82,132 | $936/mo | 75% |
| Lee County, IL | 20 mi | $70,292 | $894/mo | 74% |
| Winnebago County, IL | 22 mi | $65,837 | $1,021/mo | 66% |
| Stephenson County, IL | 28 mi | $64,043 | $798/mo | 71% |
| DeKalb County, IL | 30 mi | $70,724 | $1,049/mo | 61% |
| Carroll County, IL | 31 mi | $60,758 | $818/mo | 77% |
| Boone County, IL | 32 mi | $84,571 | $1,041/mo | 82% |
People and households in Ogle County
Degree holders: 24% of adults over 25. 4.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| Ogle County | Illinois | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.2 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.3% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.9% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.1% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.5% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.0% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.4% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.0% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Ogle County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.0% |
| 60+ min | 7.5% |
Local borrowing considerations for Ogle County
Based on the Ogle County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Ogle County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Consolidating cards in Ogle County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Debt-to-income at Ogle County's medians
Ogle County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Monthly gross at the median, Ogle County: $6,844
- Less median rent of $936, which is 14% of it
- Under a 43% cap, $2,943 total minus rent leaves $2,007
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Ogle County's.
Checklist for Ogle County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Ogle County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Illinois.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Checking a lender's license in Illinois
Consumer lenders serving Ogle County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Illinois that is the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Illinois guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Illinois guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ogle County a high-income county?
Its $82,132 median ranks 16th of 102 Illinois counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Ogle County?
$936 a month at the median, about 14% of median household income.
Does this page cover Rochelle?
Yes, along with the other 16 Census places in Ogle County, such as Oregon, Byron, Davis Junction.
Is the fit check different in Ogle County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Ogle County check a lender's license?
With the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.