1st Advantage MortgageThe median Peoria County household earns $65,108, and 16% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- 179,645 residents: Peoria County basics
- How Peoria County residents earn a living
- Homes and rents, Peoria County
- What stands out in Peoria County
- The $65,108 median and what sits around it
- Regional comparison for Peoria County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Peoria County
- Peoria County demographics against Illinois
- Reading the Peoria County data as a borrower
- $5,426 a month: the Peoria County median budget
- Checklist for Peoria County applicants
- Verifying a lender from Peoria County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
179,645 residents: Peoria County basics
Peoria County is home to about 179,645 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 12th most populous of 102 county-level areas in Illinois. Land area is 619 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 290 per square mile. Metro area: Peoria, IL (OMB, 2023). Peoria (112,169 people) heads the county's list of 21 Census places, 16 incorporated and 5 census-designated.
How Peoria County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 30% of employed Peoria County residents work in education and health care and 14% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 30% locally and 24% for Illinois. Unemployment in Peoria County, ACS five-year: 6.2%; Illinois: 5.8%. 6% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 11% work from home. No car: 8.1% of Peoria County households.
| Sector | Peoria County | Compared with Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 30.5% | +6.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.4% | +2.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.6% | -2.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.0% | -0.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.4% | +0.3 pts |
| Construction | 5.7% | +0.3 pts |
Seasonal work is common in many Peoria County industries; if that is you, show a full year of income rather than one strong month.
Homes and rents, Peoria County
Peoria County rent at the median: $993 a month, utilities in ($1,274 in Illinois). 47% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 28% spend half or more. Peoria County homes are worth $158,500 at the median, a 2.4-to-1 ratio to income. In Peoria County, 67% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them. Median construction year: 1966.
| Peoria County | Illinois | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $158,500 | $263,300 | 40% lower |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 27% | -3.9 pts |
| Median gross rent | $993/mo | $1,274/mo | 22% lower |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 48% | -0.8 pts |
| Vacant units | 8% | 8% | +0.7 pts |
| Owners | 67% | 67% | -0.1 pts |
What stands out in Peoria County
- Few Illinois counties match Peoria County on the share of commutes over 45 minutes: 6% here, 20% for the state, ranking 3rd lowest of 102. Short commutes keep vehicle costs down, which can free up room for savings.
- Peoria County ranks 6th lowest of 102 Illinois counties for the share of mobile homes: 1.1%, against 2.3% statewide. Site-built housing dominates, which matters for equity-based credit.
- Peoria County ranks 9th lowest of 102 Illinois counties for median age: 38.1, against 39.0 statewide. A young county means many first-time borrowers; read every fee line.
The $65,108 median and what sits around it
Peoria County households have a median income of $65,108 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 63rd of 102 in Illinois.
| Band | Peoria County | Compared with Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.3% | +5.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.2% | +5.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.3% | -5.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.2% | -4.7 pts |
About 26% of households earn under $35,000, while 31% clear $100,000. Poverty rate, Peoria County: 15.7%; Illinois: 11.8%. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Regional comparison for Peoria County
Stark County is closest, 22 miles from center to center; the sixth, Fulton County, is 32 miles off. Richest neighbor: Woodford County, $91,483. Poorest: Knox County, $57,030. Peoria County: $65,108.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peoria County | - | $65,108 | $993/mo | 67% |
| Stark County, IL | 22 mi | $62,878 | $735/mo | 80% |
| Tazewell County, IL | 23 mi | $77,982 | $909/mo | 78% |
| Knox County, IL | 25 mi | $57,030 | $788/mo | 71% |
| Marshall County, IL | 28 mi | $71,585 | $782/mo | 79% |
| Woodford County, IL | 29 mi | $91,483 | $912/mo | 86% |
| Fulton County, IL | 32 mi | $60,599 | $785/mo | 77% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Peoria County
151,535 of Peoria County's 179,645 residents live in its 21 Census places (84%); the 14 largest are listed. Incomes vary by place: $141,552 at the median in Dunlap, $59,410 in Peoria. Median rent ranges from $620 in Glasford to $1,214 in Bartonville. None of the 21 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peoria | city | 112,169 | $59,410 | $1,005 | 8 mi |
| Chillicothe | city | 5,900 | $66,132 | $899 | 16 mi |
| Bartonville | village | 5,841 | $72,821 | $1,214 | 11 mi |
| Peoria Heights | village | 5,825 | $60,099 | $913 | 11 mi |
| West Peoria | city | 4,238 | $66,098 | $1,199 | 9 mi |
| Elmwood | city | 2,327 | $90,285 | $713 | 10 mi |
| Bellevue | village | 2,106 | $60,987 | $943 | 8 mi |
| Farmington | city | 2,050 | $65,223 | $918 | 14 mi |
| Rome | CDP | 1,947 | $88,750 | $1,094 | 15 mi |
| Princeville | village | 1,837 | $76,250 | $931 | 10 mi |
| Lake Camelot | CDP | 1,629 | $133,656 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Dunlap | village | 1,360 | $141,552 | $976 | 6 mi |
| Hanna City | village | 1,330 | $73,265 | $905 | 7 mi |
| Brimfield | village | 750 | $70,000 | $900 | 7 mi |
Peoria County demographics against Illinois
College graduates make up 35% of the adult population. Health coverage gaps: 5.8% of Peoria County residents are uninsured.
| People and households | Peoria County | Compared with Illinois | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.1 | -0.9 yrs | -3.4 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 34.9% | -3.0 pts | +12.7 pts |
| No high school diploma | 6.6% | -3.0 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.8% | -1.1 pts | -2.1 pts |
| No vehicle | 8.1% | -2.9 pts | +2.6 pts |
| Work from home | 11.4% | -4.4 pts | +2.7 pts |
| Poverty rate | 15.7% | +3.9 pts | +2.5 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.2% | +0.3 pts | +1.8 pts |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 46.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.9% |
| 60+ min | 3.0% |
Reading the Peoria County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Peoria County borrowers.
- Renters under pressure. When 47% 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).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
$5,426 a month: the Peoria County median budget
Peoria County's $65,108 median income, run through a debt-to-income check:
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,426 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $993, takes 18% of that
- With a 36% ceiling, about $960 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Homeowners in Peoria County should swap in their mortgage, taxes and insurance for rent.
Checklist for Peoria County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Peoria County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Peoria County.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Illinois.
- Ask a Peoria County credit union about member loans.
Verifying a lender from Peoria County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Peoria County resident can confirm its license with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Nationally, Peoria County residents can file with the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Illinois guide.
Related local guides
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Peoria County earn?
The median is $65,108; 31% earn $100,000 or more and 26% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Peoria County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $993 a month; 47% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Peoria County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Peoria, Chillicothe, Bartonville, Peoria Heights, West Peoria and 16 more.
Can Peoria County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Illinois county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Where can someone in Peoria 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.