1st Advantage MortgageThe median Warren County household earns $67,385, 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
- Warren County by the numbers
- Warren County housing compared with Illinois
- Household income in Warren County
- The Warren County job picture
- Warren County next to its neighbors
- Places inside Warren County
- More Warren County figures
- Borrowing situations common in Warren County
- What a median Warren County budget can carry
- Before you sign
- Illinois rules that apply in Warren County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Warren County by the numbers
With an estimated 16,447 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Warren County ranks 65th of 102 in Illinois for population. Land area is 542 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 30 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Warren County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 6 Census places inside Warren County, Monmouth leads by population with about 8,581; 5 of the 6 are incorporated.
Warren County housing compared with Illinois
A typical Warren County rental runs $788 a month including utilities, which is 38% below Illinois. 35% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 12% spend half or more. With a median value of $105,000, a typical Warren County house costs 1.6 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 75% of homes.
| Measure | Warren County | Illinois | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $788/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $105,000 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 35% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 27% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Warren 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.
Household income in Warren County
Half of Warren County households take in less than $67,385 a year and half take in more, 19% below the Illinois median of $83,390. In the state ranking that is 49th of 102.
| Households earning | Warren County | +/- vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.0% | +0.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.5% | +11.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.9% | -3.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.7% | -8.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 31% of Warren County households make $100,000 or more, and 21% make less than $35,000. 14.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.8%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.430 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $67,385 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
The Warren County job picture
Education and health care employs 28% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 14%. Compared with Illinois, the county leans toward education and health care (28% against 24%). The survey's unemployment rate for Warren County averages 3.6% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.8%). 8% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home. 6.9% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Warren County share | +/- vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.2% | +4.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.8% | +2.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.5% | +1.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.1% | +1.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.8% | -1.4 pts |
| Other services | 5.6% | +1.1 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Warren County next to its neighbors
Distances run center to center, from Henderson County at 17 miles out to Fulton County at 34. Income ranges from $52,795 in McDonough County to $74,182 in Mercer County; 1 of these neighbors top Warren County's median. Some neighbors are in Iowa. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Warren County resident follows Illinois rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warren County | - | $67,385 | $788/mo | 75% |
| Henderson County, IL | 17 mi | $62,227 | $764/mo | 81% |
| Knox County, IL | 22 mi | $57,030 | $788/mo | 71% |
| Mercer County, IL | 25 mi | $74,182 | $786/mo | 84% |
| McDonough County, IL | 27 mi | $52,795 | $761/mo | 63% |
| Des Moines County, IA | 30 mi | $62,928 | $904/mo | 75% |
| Fulton County, IL | 34 mi | $60,599 | $785/mo | 77% |
Places inside Warren County
6 Census places fall mainly inside Warren County; the 6 biggest are below. They account for 11,511 residents, leaving about 30% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $50,000 in Avon to $67,917 in Kirkwood. Rent is cheapest in Monmouth ($733) and steepest in Kirkwood ($938). No Warren County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 6.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monmouth | city | 8,581 | $61,138 | $733 | 5 mi |
| Roseville | village | 823 | $58,203 | $859 | 9 mi |
| Kirkwood | village | 754 | $67,917 | $938 | 7 mi |
| Avon | village | 694 | $50,000 | $875 | 16 mi |
| Little York | village | 379 | $54,545 | $828 | 13 mi |
| Cameron | CDP | 280 | $92,167 | n/a | 6 mi |
More Warren County figures
Degree holders: 22% of adults over 25. 5.0% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Warren County | Illinois statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.0% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.9% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.0% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.9% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.4% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.6% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.6% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 51.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.5% |
| 60+ min | 5.8% |
Borrowing situations common in Warren County
A few patterns in the Warren County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Consolidating cards in Warren County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
What a median Warren County budget can carry
Warren County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Monthly gross at the median, Warren County: $5,615
- Housing at the median rent of $788 uses 14%
- Under a 36% cap, $2,022 total minus rent leaves $1,234
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Before you sign
Quick steps for Warren County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Illinois.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Illinois rules that apply in Warren County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Warren County resident can confirm its license with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Illinois guide covers state rules in more detail.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Illinois guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Warren County?
$67,385 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $83,390 for Illinois. It ranks 49th of 102 in the state.
What do renters pay in Warren County?
$788 a month at the median, about 14% of median household income.
I own my home in Warren County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 75% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Warren County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Monmouth, Roseville, Kirkwood, Avon, Little York and 1 more.
Is the fit check different in Warren County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.