1st Advantage MortgageAbout 78% of Pike County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $59,777. 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
- Pike County by the numbers
- Jobs and commutes in Pike County
- How much Pike County households make
- Housing costs in Pike County
- The communities that make up Pike County
- Regional comparison for Pike County
- Who lives in Pike County, in numbers
- Borrowing situations common in Pike County
- Budget math at the Pike County median
- Licensing and complaints for Pike County
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Pike County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Pike County's population at 14,469; only 72 of Illinois's 102 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 831 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 17 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Pike County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 18 places in the county (17 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Pittsfield, with about 4,420 residents, or 31% of the county.
Jobs and commutes in Pike County
The biggest employer of Pike County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 26% of workers, followed by retail trade (13%). Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 7% of workers here, versus 1% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.9% in Pike County. 17% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Pike County | Gap to Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.8% | +2.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.8% | +2.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.9% | -1.6 pts |
| Public administration | 7.6% | +3.8 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 7.0% | +5.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.8% | -0.2 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Pike County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
How much Pike County households make
Half of Pike County households take in less than $59,777 a year and half take in more, 28% below the Illinois median of $83,390. Only 85 Illinois counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Pike County | +/- vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.9% | +8.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.1% | +7.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.3% | -4.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.8% | -11.0 pts |
Some 29% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 26% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 14.8%, 3 points higher than the state's 11.8%. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Housing costs in Pike County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $676 in Pike County versus $1,274 statewide. By the Census definition, 41% of Pike County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $101,400, about 1.7 times the median household income. Owners occupy 78% of homes. The median home was built in 1961, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Housing | Pike County | Illinois statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $676/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $101,400 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 27% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.0% | 2.3% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 18% | 8% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Pike 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.
The communities that make up Pike County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 18 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 71% of Pike County residents live in one of the 18. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $36,667 in Griggsville to $76,042 in Barry. This guide covers each of the 18 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsfield | city | 4,420 | $54,643 | $705 | 5 mi |
| Barry | city | 1,512 | $76,042 | $644 | 9 mi |
| Griggsville | city | 1,310 | $36,667 | $541 | 10 mi |
| Pleasant Hill | village | 970 | $49,904 | $638 | 13 mi |
| Hull | village | 413 | $60,863 | $633 | 18 mi |
| Nebo | village | 266 | $44,625 | $950 | 14 mi |
| Kinderhook | village | 249 | $60,536 | $656 | 15 mi |
| New Canton | town | 230 | $58,000 | $688 | 11 mi |
| Milton | village | 217 | $50,769 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Perry | village | 206 | $44,792 | $396 | 13 mi |
| El Dara | village | 118 | $58,125 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Baylis | village | 102 | $40,000 | $381 | 7 mi |
| New Salem | village | 93 | $46,875 | $732 | 6 mi |
| Rockport | CDP | 67 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Regional comparison for Pike County
Six nearby counties, 22 to 34 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $54,989 in Pike County to $93,203 in Calhoun County; 5 of these neighbors top Pike County's median. Some neighbors are in Missouri. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Pike County resident follows Illinois rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pike County | - | $59,777 | $676/mo | 78% |
| Scott County, IL | 22 mi | $66,705 | $689/mo | 79% |
| Brown County, IL | 24 mi | $67,917 | $698/mo | 72% |
| Pike County, MO | 25 mi | $54,989 | $778/mo | 73% |
| Adams County, IL | 30 mi | $66,220 | $828/mo | 72% |
| Greene County, IL | 33 mi | $62,192 | $754/mo | 78% |
| Calhoun County, IL | 34 mi | $93,203 | $583/mo | 89% |
Who lives in Pike County, in numbers
College graduates make up 18% of the adult population. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Pike County | Illinois | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.0 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.5% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.6% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.7% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.4% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.8% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.9% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Pike County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 40.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.6% |
| 60+ min | 8.3% |
Borrowing situations common in Pike County
Based on the Pike County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Budget math at the Pike County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Pike County's medians:
- $4,981 a month: gross income for a household at the Pike County median
- 14% goes to median rent ($676)
- Under a 36% cap, $1,793 total minus rent leaves $1,117
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,466 a month
If your rent is above $676, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Licensing and complaints for Pike County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Pike County resident can confirm its license with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Illinois: Illinois personal loans.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Related local guides
The Illinois guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pike County a high-income county?
Its $59,777 median ranks 86th of 102 Illinois counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Pike County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $676 a month; 41% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Pike County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 78% of Pike County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small Pike County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Pittsfield, Barry, Griggsville, Pleasant Hill, Hull and 13 more.
Will a Pike County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Illinois as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.