1st Advantage MortgageThe median Randolph County household earns $68,131, and 15% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Who lives in Randolph County
- How Randolph County residents earn a living
- Household income in Randolph County
- Renting and owning in Randolph County
- Regional comparison for Randolph County
- Randolph County towns compared
- Who lives in Randolph County, in numbers
- Local borrowing considerations for Randolph County
- Debt-to-income at Randolph County's medians
- A Randolph County borrower's checklist
- Licensing and complaints for Randolph County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Randolph County
Randolph County is home to about 30,058 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 47th most populous of 102 county-level areas in Illinois. Packed into 575 square miles, that is close to 52 residents for every square mile of land. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 14 places in the county (14 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Chester, with about 6,797 residents, or 23% of the county.
How Randolph County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Randolph County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 26% of workers, followed by manufacturing (17%). Compared with Illinois, the county leans toward manufacturing (17% against 11%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.0% in Randolph County. About 81% drive to work alone and 17% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Sector | Randolph County | Compared with Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.9% | +2.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.8% | +5.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.9% | -1.4 pts |
| Public administration | 8.4% | +4.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.9% | -1.3 pts |
| Construction | 6.3% | +0.9 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Household income in Randolph County
Randolph County households have a median income of $68,131 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 45th of 102 in Illinois.
| Household income | Randolph County | vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.9% | +4.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.3% | +6.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.0% | -0.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.8% | -10.0 pts |
Some 25% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 32% have six-figure incomes. 14.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.8%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.408 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Randolph 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.
Renting and owning in Randolph County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $780 in Randolph County versus $1,274 statewide. 44% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 18% spend half or more. With a median value of $135,100, a typical Randolph County house costs 2.0 times what the median household earns in a year. 77% of Randolph County households own their home and 23% rent.
| Home costs | Randolph County | Illinois | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $780/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $135,100 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 27% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 13.9% | 2.3% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Randolph 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.
Regional comparison for Randolph County
Distances run center to center, from Ste. Genevieve County at 22 miles out to Washington County at 30. Income ranges from $62,118 in Perry County to $102,880 in Monroe County; 3 of these neighbors top Randolph County's median. Some neighbors are in Missouri. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Randolph County resident follows Illinois rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Randolph County | - | $68,131 | $780/mo | 77% |
| Ste. Genevieve County, MO | 22 mi | $66,339 | $780/mo | 83% |
| Perry County, MO | 24 mi | $62,981 | $923/mo | 77% |
| Perry County, IL | 25 mi | $62,118 | $728/mo | 81% |
| Monroe County, IL | 25 mi | $102,880 | $1,042/mo | 85% |
| St. Clair County, IL | 29 mi | $73,854 | $1,090/mo | 68% |
| Washington County, IL | 30 mi | $78,224 | $818/mo | 84% |
Randolph County towns compared
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 14 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 71% of Randolph County residents live in one of the 14. Chester has the highest median household income on the list ($80,625) and Percy the lowest ($44,015), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Percy ($600) and steepest in Red Bud ($845). Live in one of these Randolph County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chester | city | 6,797 | $80,625 | $760 | 9 mi |
| Sparta | city | 4,068 | $52,188 | $762 | 8 mi |
| Red Bud | city | 3,782 | $71,850 | $845 | 14 mi |
| Steeleville | village | 1,855 | $60,313 | $769 | 9 mi |
| Percy | village | 921 | $44,015 | $600 | 11 mi |
| Coulterville | village | 796 | $48,636 | $822 | 15 mi |
| Evansville | village | 781 | $65,750 | $791 | 6 mi |
| Tilden | village | 762 | $47,857 | $743 | 13 mi |
| Prairie du Rocher | village | 454 | $66,161 | $773 | 15 mi |
| Ruma | village | 394 | $75,000 | $975 | 11 mi |
| Ellis Grove | village | 359 | $82,813 | $850 | 6 mi |
| Baldwin | village | 355 | $46,771 | $838 | 9 mi |
| Kaskaskia | village | 38 | $150,313 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Rockwood | village | 14 | $59,375 | n/a | 17 mi |
Who lives in Randolph County, in numbers
Degree holders: 15% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 5.3%, against 6.9% for Illinois.
| People and households | Randolph County | Illinois | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.7 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.2% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.9% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.3% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.7% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.3% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.6% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.0% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Randolph County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 38.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.4% |
| 60+ min | 9.2% |
Local borrowing considerations for Randolph County
Where the Randolph County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 14% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Consolidating cards in Randolph 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 Randolph County's medians
Randolph County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,678 before taxes
- Less median rent of $780, which is 14% of it
- At 40%, room after rent is $1,491 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
A Randolph County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Randolph County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Randolph County.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Randolph County-area credit union.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Illinois.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Licensing and complaints for Randolph 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. The Illinois guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
The Illinois guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Randolph County?
$68,131 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $83,390 for Illinois. It ranks 45th of 102 in the state.
Is Randolph County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $780 against $1,274 statewide, and 44% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Randolph 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 Randolph County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 14 Census places: Chester, Sparta, Red Bud, Steeleville, Percy.
Can Randolph 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.