1st Advantage MortgageIn Pope County, Illinois, the typical household earns $60,050 a year and the typical rent is $449. For a Pope County borrower, the useful steps are the same anywhere: price the need, gather three written offers, and check the Illinois license.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Pope County
- Employment and commuting in Pope County
- What it costs to live in Pope County
- Pope County income bands
- Pope County at the extremes
- Towns and communities in Pope County
- Regional comparison for Pope County
- Pope County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Local borrowing considerations for Pope County
- Debt-to-income, Pope County edition
- Checking a lender's license in Illinois
- Four steps for Pope County borrowers
- Beyond Pope County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Pope County
Pope County is home to about 3,739 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 101st most populous of 102 county-level areas in Illinois. It covers 369 square miles of land, or about 10 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Pope County is not part of any metropolitan area. Golconda (691 people) heads the county's list of 2 Census places, 2 incorporated and 0 census-designated. With so few households sampled, Pope County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Employment and commuting in Pope County
Top Pope County industry by residents employed: education and health care, 30%; second, retail trade, 14%. Compared with Illinois, the county leans toward education and health care (30% against 24%). Averaged over the five survey years, 2.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 81% drive to work alone and 19% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 5.5% of the total (11.0% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Pope County workers | vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 29.8% | +6.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.8% | +3.4 pts |
| Construction | 10.2% | +4.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.9% | +2.9 pts |
| Public administration | 8.8% | +4.9 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 6.8% | +5.7 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Pope County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
What it costs to live in Pope County
A typical Pope County rental runs $449 a month including utilities, which is 65% below Illinois. About 3 in 10 Pope County renters pay 30% or more of income for rent. Pope County homes are worth $143,800 at the median, a 2.4-to-1 ratio to income. Homeowners 86%, renters 14%. Half the housing stock was built before 1986.
| Cost | Pope County | Illinois figure | Higher or lower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vacant units | 38% | 8% | +30.0 pts |
| Owners | 86% | 67% | +19.2 pts |
| Mobile homes | 17.3% | 2.3% | +15.1 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 34% | 48% | -14.4 pts |
| Median gross rent | $449/mo | $1,274/mo | 65% lower |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 27% | -6.2 pts |
| Median home value | $143,800 | $263,300 | 45% lower |
At a $143,800 median value, many Pope County owners hold equity. Using it lowers cost only if you can carry the risk (equity vs. unsecured).
Pope County income bands
The median household income in Pope County is $60,050; statewide it is $83,390, so Pope County runs 28% below Illinois as a whole. Only 83 Illinois counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Pope County | +/- vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.0% | +8.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.5% | +7.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.5% | -6.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.0% | -8.8 pts |
About 29% of households earn under $35,000, while 26% clear $100,000. 13.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.8%). For a borrower in Pope 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.
Pope County at the extremes
Out of every Illinois county, Pope County is most unusual on these measures.
- On median age, Pope County sits near the top of Illinois at 53.9, the highest of 102. Older borrowers often rely on fixed incomes, so a fixed payment helps.
- On median gross rent, Pope County sits near the bottom of Illinois at $449/mo, 2nd lowest of 102. Cheaper housing gives many renters more slack in a budget.
- Pope County ranks 2nd highest of 102 Illinois counties for the housing vacancy rate: 38%, against 8% statewide. Many empty units can point to seasonal housing.
- Pope County ranks 2nd lowest of 102 Illinois counties for population: 3,739, against 12,694,798 statewide. In a small county, the nearest lender may not be the best; compare online offers too.
Towns and communities in Pope County
The table lists the 2 largest of 2 Census places in Pope County, by population. Together all 2 hold about 755 people, so roughly 80% of residents live outside any named place. Live in one of these Pope County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golconda | city | 691 | $41,875 | $393 | 5 mi |
| Eddyville | village | 64 | $28,864 | $492 | 6 mi |
Regional comparison for Pope County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (17 to 24 miles). 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Pope County; Massac County is highest at $65,116 and Crittenden County lowest at $46,656. Some neighbors are in Kentucky. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Pope County resident follows Illinois rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pope County | - | $60,050 | $449/mo | 86% |
| Massac County, IL | 17 mi | $65,116 | $756/mo | 76% |
| Hardin County, IL | 17 mi | $54,271 | $379/mo | 80% |
| Livingston County, KY | 17 mi | $58,984 | $926/mo | 81% |
| Johnson County, IL | 19 mi | $62,528 | $781/mo | 82% |
| Saline County, IL | 23 mi | $53,117 | $726/mo | 73% |
| Crittenden County, KY | 24 mi | $46,656 | $714/mo | 78% |
Pope County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Bachelor's degree or higher: 16% of Pope County adults. 3.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Pope County | Gap to Illinois | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.9 | +14.9 yrs | +12.4 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.7% | -22.2 pts | -6.5 pts |
| No high school diploma | 7.4% | -2.2 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.1% | -3.8 pts | -4.8 pts |
| No vehicle | 5.5% | -5.5 pts | +0.1 pts |
| Work from home | 10.0% | -5.8 pts | +1.4 pts |
| Poverty rate | 13.3% | +1.5 pts | +0.1 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.8% | -3.1 pts | -1.6 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of Pope County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 21.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 21.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 38.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 13.1% |
| 60+ min | 6.1% |
Local borrowing considerations for Pope County
Pope County-specific points to check:
- Keeping the car running. At 19% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Pope County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- 17% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Age 53.9 at the median. Many Pope County applicants document income with award letters; ask about early payoff.
Debt-to-income, Pope County edition
Here is the Pope County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Pope County: $5,004
- Rent at the median, $449, takes 9% of that
- Under a 36% cap, $1,802 total minus rent leaves $1,352
Two-income households and single earners in Pope County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Checking a lender's license in Illinois
Consumer lenders serving Pope County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Illinois that is the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Illinois page has statewide figures to set beside Pope County's.
Four steps for Pope County borrowers
A short checklist for Pope County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Beyond Pope County
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
Is $60,050 a good income in Pope County?
It is the county median, so half of Pope County households earn more and half less; 26% earn $100,000 or more.
Is Pope County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $449 against $1,274 statewide, and 34% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Golconda?
Yes, along with the other 1 Census place in Pope County, such as Eddyville.
Will a Pope County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Illinois as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Where can someone in Pope 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.