1st Advantage MortgageSt. Clair County households have a median income of $73,854 and median rent of $1,090 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Illinois license first.
On this page
- St. Clair County by the numbers
- The St. Clair County job picture
- Income in St. Clair County compared with Illinois
- What it costs to live in St. Clair County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- St. Clair County towns compared
- More St. Clair County figures
- What the numbers mean for St. Clair County borrowers
- What a median St. Clair County budget can carry
- Steps before you apply in St. Clair County
- Lender oversight for St. Clair County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
St. Clair County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts St. Clair County's population at 253,694; only 8 of Illinois's 102 county-level areas are larger. It covers 658 square miles of land, or about 386 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Of the 30 Census places inside St. Clair County, Belleville leads by population with about 41,370; 25 of the 30 are incorporated.
The St. Clair County job picture
The biggest employer of St. Clair County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by professional and administrative services (12%). Public administration stands out: 7% of workers here, versus 4% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.0% in St. Clair County. Long commutes are the exception here: 12% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 7.5% of the total (11.0% statewide).
| Sector | St. Clair County | Compared with Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.8% | +1.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 12.4% | -0.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.2% | -0.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.9% | +1.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.8% | -2.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.7% | +0.7 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in St. Clair County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Income in St. Clair County compared with Illinois
Half of St. Clair County households take in less than $73,854 a year and half take in more, 11% below the Illinois median of $83,390. In the state ranking that is 29th of 102.
| Band | St. Clair County | Compared with Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.9% | +3.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.1% | +2.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.4% | -1.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.6% | -4.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 36% of St. Clair County households make $100,000 or more, and 24% make less than $35,000. Census counts 13.6% of St. Clair County residents in poverty, against 11.8% across Illinois. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the St. Clair County median.
What it costs to live in St. Clair County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,090 in St. Clair County versus $1,274 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 48% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $180,300, about 2.4 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 68%.
| Measure | St. Clair County | Illinois | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,090/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $180,300 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 27% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.4% | 2.3% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 13% | 8% | n/a |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Distances run center to center, from Monroe County at 19 miles out to Randolph County at 29. Income ranges from $56,160 in St. Louis city to $102,880 in Monroe County; 4 of these neighbors top St. Clair County's median. Some neighbors are in Missouri. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a St. Clair County resident follows Illinois rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Clair County | - | $73,854 | $1,090/mo | 68% |
| Monroe County, IL | 19 mi | $102,880 | $1,042/mo | 85% |
| St. Louis city, MO | 21 mi | $56,160 | $997/mo | 45% |
| Madison County, IL | 25 mi | $75,793 | $1,024/mo | 74% |
| Clinton County, IL | 29 mi | $86,588 | $912/mo | 80% |
| Washington County, IL | 29 mi | $78,224 | $818/mo | 84% |
| Randolph County, IL | 29 mi | $68,131 | $780/mo | 77% |
St. Clair County towns compared
The table lists the 14 largest of 30 Census places in St. Clair County, by population. Together all 30 hold about 188,914 people, so roughly 26% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $30,673 in Brooklyn to $135,455 in Smithton. Rent is cheapest in Marissa ($702) and steepest in Scott AFB ($1,610). Live in one of these St. Clair County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belleville | city | 41,370 | $63,535 | $1,019 | 5 mi |
| O'Fallon | city | 32,262 | $105,982 | $1,332 | 9 mi |
| East St. Louis | city | 17,999 | $35,700 | $847 | 15 mi |
| Fairview Heights | city | 16,745 | $80,930 | $1,174 | 10 mi |
| Swansea | village | 14,710 | $91,587 | $1,137 | 6 mi |
| Shiloh | village | 14,572 | $99,573 | $1,187 | 6 mi |
| Mascoutah | city | 8,816 | $97,375 | $1,370 | 8 mi |
| Freeburg | village | 4,592 | $92,065 | $1,046 | 2 mi |
| Lebanon | city | 4,474 | $88,750 | $1,091 | 11 mi |
| Caseyville | village | 4,130 | $60,669 | $1,122 | 12 mi |
| Millstadt | village | 4,008 | $90,901 | $1,150 | 9 mi |
| Scott AFB | CDP | 3,957 | $103,390 | $1,610 | 7 mi |
| Dupo | village | 3,879 | $61,644 | $912 | 16 mi |
| Smithton | village | 3,680 | $135,455 | n/a | 5 mi |
More St. Clair County figures
32% of St. Clair County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 5.1%, against 6.9% for Illinois.
| Indicator | St. Clair County | All of Illinois | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.9 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 31.8% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.5% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.1% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.5% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.4% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.6% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.0% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | St. Clair County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 27.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 40.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.2% |
| 60+ min | 4.4% |
What the numbers mean for St. Clair County borrowers
What the St. Clair County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Renters under pressure. When 48% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Consolidating cards in St. Clair County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a St. Clair County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
What a median St. Clair County budget can carry
How much room does a median St. Clair County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $73,854 a year is $6,154 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $1,090, which is 18% of it
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,556 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Steps before you apply in St. Clair County
Steps that save money for St. Clair County residents:
- Price the St. Clair County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask a St. Clair County credit union about member loans.
Lender oversight for St. Clair County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For St. Clair County, check the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Illinois state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
The Illinois guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is St. Clair County a high-income county?
Its $73,854 median ranks 29th of 102 Illinois counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does St. Clair County rent compare with Illinois?
$1,090 locally versus $1,274 for the state, 14% below.
What are the biggest places in St. Clair County?
By population: Belleville, O'Fallon, East St. Louis, Fairview Heights, Swansea. The county has 30 Census places in all.
Does living in St. Clair County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a St. Clair County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who regulates personal lenders for St. Clair County residents?
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation licenses consumer lenders in Illinois; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.