1st Advantage MortgageAbout 80% of Stark County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $62,878. 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
- Stark County, IL: the basics
- Paychecks and income spread in Stark County
- Employment and commuting in Stark County
- Renting and owning in Stark County
- Places inside Stark County
- Regional comparison for Stark County
- Stark County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Borrowing situations common in Stark County
- What a median Stark County budget can carry
- Checking a lender's license in Illinois
- Checklist for Stark County applicants
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Stark County, IL: the basics
Roughly 5,308 residents live in Stark County, Illinois, 95th by population among the state's 102 counties and county equivalents. It covers 288 square miles of land, or about 18 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Peoria, IL metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 4 places in the county (4 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Wyoming, with about 1,578 residents, or 30% of the county. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Stark County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Paychecks and income spread in Stark County
Stark County households have a median income of $62,878 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 68th of 102 in Illinois.
| Band | Stark County | Compared with Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.8% | +3.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.7% | +6.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.9% | -4.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.7% | -6.1 pts |
Some 25% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 32% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 11.1% of Stark County residents in poverty, against 11.8% across Illinois. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.448 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Stark County median.
Employment and commuting in Stark County
The biggest employer of Stark County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by manufacturing (17%). Manufacturing stands out: 17% of workers here, versus 11% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.3% in Stark County. About 81% drive to work alone and 19% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 2.5% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Stark County | Gap to Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.1% | -1.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 17.4% | +5.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.0% | +1.6 pts |
| Construction | 6.7% | +1.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.6% | -0.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.4% | -6.5 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Stark County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Renting and owning in Stark County
A typical Stark County rental runs $735 a month including utilities, which is 42% below Illinois. By the Census definition, 43% of Stark County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $104,500, a typical Stark County house costs 1.7 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 80%.
| Housing | Stark County | Illinois statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $735/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $104,500 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 27% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 1.9% | 2.3% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 11% | 8% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Stark 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.
Places inside Stark County
The table lists the 4 largest of 4 Census places in Stark County, by population. Together all 4 hold about 4,013 people, so roughly 24% of residents live outside any named place. Wyoming has the highest median household income on the list ($60,238) and Bradford the lowest ($52,292), counting places with at least 500 residents. This guide covers each of the 4 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | city | 1,578 | $60,238 | $668 | 3 mi |
| Toulon | city | 1,485 | $59,167 | $714 | 3 mi |
| Bradford | village | 772 | $52,292 | $809 | 9 mi |
| La Fayette | village | 178 | $51,346 | n/a | 9 mi |
Regional comparison for Stark County
Peoria County is closest, 22 miles from center to center; the sixth, Putnam County, is 27 miles off. Putnam County leads the group on income ($75,590), Knox County trails ($57,030), and Stark County out-earns 1 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stark County | - | $62,878 | $735/mo | 80% |
| Peoria County, IL | 22 mi | $65,108 | $993/mo | 67% |
| Marshall County, IL | 24 mi | $71,585 | $782/mo | 79% |
| Knox County, IL | 25 mi | $57,030 | $788/mo | 71% |
| Henry County, IL | 25 mi | $71,911 | $842/mo | 80% |
| Bureau County, IL | 25 mi | $69,257 | $832/mo | 76% |
| Putnam County, IL | 27 mi | $75,590 | $851/mo | 81% |
Stark County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 21% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 5.8%, against 6.9% for Illinois.
| Stark County | Illinois | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.4 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.4% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.2% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.8% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.5% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.0% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.1% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.3% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 35.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 21.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.8% |
| 60+ min | 6.9% |
Borrowing situations common in Stark County
What the Stark County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Commuter costs. 19% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Stark County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
What a median Stark County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Stark County's medians:
- $62,878 a year is $5,240 of gross monthly income
- 14% goes to median rent ($735)
- $1,099: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- Under a 45% cap, $2,358 total minus rent leaves $1,623
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Stark County's.
Checking a lender's license in Illinois
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation is the place to verify any lender's Illinois license. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Illinois state guide for the statewide picture.
Checklist for Stark County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Price the Stark County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Illinois.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Illinois guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Stark County earn?
The median is $62,878; 32% earn $100,000 or more and 25% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Stark County rent compare with Illinois?
$735 locally versus $1,274 for the state, 42% below.
Does this page cover Wyoming?
Yes, along with the other 3 Census places in Stark County, such as Toulon, Bradford, La Fayette.
Are Stark 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.
Is there a Stark County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Illinois it is the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.