1st Advantage MortgageSaline County households have a median income of $53,117 and median rent of $726 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Getting oriented in Saline County
- What it costs to live in Saline County
- Paychecks and income spread in Saline County
- Jobs and commutes in Saline County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Saline County
- Saline County and the counties next door
- What a median Saline County budget can carry
- Reading the Saline County data as a borrower
- Who lives in Saline County, in numbers
- Checking a lender's license in Illinois
- Four steps for Saline County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Saline County
Roughly 23,213 residents live in Saline County, Illinois, 52nd by population among the state's 102 counties and county equivalents. It covers 380 square miles of land, or about 61 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Saline County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 7 Census places inside Saline County, Harrisburg leads by population with about 8,372; 7 of the 7 are incorporated.
What it costs to live in Saline County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $726 in Saline County versus $1,274 statewide. 50% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 31% spend half or more. With a median value of $94,300, a typical Saline County house costs 1.8 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 73%.
| Home costs | Saline County | Illinois | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $726/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $94,300 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 27% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Saline 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. High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Paychecks and income spread in Saline County
Saline County households have a median income of $53,117 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 98th of 102 in Illinois.
| Households earning | Saline County | +/- vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 34.1% | +13.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.1% | +2.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.5% | -7.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.3% | -8.5 pts |
About 34% of households earn under $35,000, while 26% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 18.9%, 7 points higher than the state's 11.8%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.525 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Jobs and commutes in Saline County
Education and health care employs 29% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 11%. Education and health care stands out: 29% of workers here, versus 24% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 7.7% in Saline County. Long commutes are common here: 17% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Where residents work | Saline County | Difference from Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 29.0% | +5.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.9% | -0.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.6% | +0.2 pts |
| Public administration | 6.1% | +2.3 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.1% | -1.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.1% | -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.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Saline County
7 Census places fall mainly inside Saline County; the 7 biggest are below. They account for 15,414 residents, leaving about 34% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $50,729 at the median in Carrier Mills, $37,154 in Eldorado. Median rent ranges from $478 in Carrier Mills to $912 in Galatia. No Saline County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 7.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg | city | 8,372 | $43,415 | $760 | 1 mi |
| Eldorado | city | 3,771 | $37,154 | $657 | 7 mi |
| Carrier Mills | village | 1,634 | $50,729 | $478 | 6 mi |
| Galatia | village | 913 | $48,258 | $912 | 7 mi |
| Stonefort | village | 422 | $56,477 | $766 | 13 mi |
| Raleigh | village | 235 | $49,167 | $600 | 5 mi |
| Muddy | village | 67 | n/a | $531 | 2 mi |
Saline County and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (17 to 27 miles). Income ranges from $54,271 in Hardin County to $65,746 in Hamilton County; all six of these neighbors top Saline County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saline County | - | $53,117 | $726/mo | 73% |
| Gallatin County, IL | 17 mi | $59,219 | $541/mo | 77% |
| Williamson County, IL | 21 mi | $65,604 | $930/mo | 71% |
| Hardin County, IL | 22 mi | $54,271 | $379/mo | 80% |
| Hamilton County, IL | 23 mi | $65,746 | $568/mo | 76% |
| Pope County, IL | 23 mi | $60,050 | $449/mo | 86% |
| Franklin County, IL | 27 mi | $56,740 | $803/mo | 74% |
What a median Saline County budget can carry
How much room does a median Saline County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,426 before taxes
- Less median rent of $726, which is 16% of it
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,177 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Reading the Saline County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Saline County borrowers.
- 19% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- Renters under pressure. When 50% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Who lives in Saline County, in numbers
Degree holders: 20% of adults over 25. 5.4% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Saline County | All of Illinois | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.8 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.6% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.3% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.4% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.6% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.2% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.9% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.7% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 43.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.1% |
| 60+ min | 10.0% |
Checking a lender's license in Illinois
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Saline County, check 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.
Four steps for Saline County borrowers
Steps that save money for Saline County residents:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Illinois borrowers.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Illinois guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Saline County household make?
About $53,117 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 36% below the Illinois median.
Is Saline County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $726 against $1,274 statewide, and 50% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Saline County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 7 Census places: Harrisburg, Eldorado, Carrier Mills, Galatia, Stonefort.
Are Saline County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Saline County?
Start with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.