1st Advantage MortgageIn Washington County, Illinois, the typical household earns $78,224 a year and the typical rent is $818. 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
- Washington County, IL: the basics
- Labor force snapshot: Washington County
- Washington County at the extremes
- Renting and owning in Washington County
- Household income in Washington County
- Towns and communities in Washington County
- Washington County next to its neighbors
- Borrowing situations common in Washington County
- Age, degrees and coverage in Washington County
- Room for a loan payment in Washington County
- Verifying a lender from Washington County
- A Washington County borrower's checklist
- More guides for Washington County
- Frequently asked questions
Washington County, IL: the basics
Washington County is home to about 13,627 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 76th most populous of 102 county-level areas in Illinois. Its 563 square miles average 24 people per square mile, by the 2024 Census Gazetteer. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Nashville is the biggest of its 12 Census places, at roughly 2,940 people (22% of the county total).
Labor force snapshot: Washington County
Top Washington County industry by residents employed: education and health care, 20%; second, manufacturing, 15%. Washington County over-indexes on agriculture, forestry and mining: 8% versus 1% in Illinois. The survey's unemployment rate for Washington County averages 4.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.8%). About 84% drive to work alone and 17% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Top industries | Washington County share | +/- vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.6% | -3.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.4% | +3.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.6% | +2.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.2% | +7.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.8% | -5.1 pts |
| Construction | 7.6% | +2.2 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Washington County at the extremes
Where Washington County lands at the extremes of Illinois's county rankings:
- Households without a vehicle: 2.6% in Washington County. Only 3 of 102 Illinois counties are lower. Car ownership is close to universal, and so are repair bills.
- On homeownership, Washington County sits near the top of Illinois at 84%, 8th highest of 102. An owner-heavy county means repairs are a common reason to borrow.
- Few Illinois counties match Washington County on the share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent: 29% here, 48% for the state, ranking 9th lowest of 102. Rents are manageable for most, which can leave space for savings.
Renting and owning in Washington County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $818 in Washington County versus $1,274 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 29% of renter households here. With a median value of $155,700, a typical Washington County house costs 2.0 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 84%. The median home was built in 1972, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills. Against the median U.S. county, Washington County rent is 7% below.
| Home costs | Washington County | Illinois | Compared with Illinois |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $818/mo | $1,274/mo | 36% lower |
| Median home value | $155,700 | $263,300 | 41% lower |
| Owners | 84% | 67% | +17.0 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 29% | 48% | -19.3 pts |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 27% | -2.3 pts |
| Mobile homes | 8.9% | 2.3% | +6.6 pts |
| Vacant units | 10% | 8% | +2.0 pts |
In an owner-heavy county like Washington 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 Washington County
At $78,224, the typical Washington County household income is 19% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 19 Illinois counties post a higher median.
| Band | Washington County | Compared with Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 17.1% | -3.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.5% | +10.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.1% | +1.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.4% | -8.4 pts |
On the low end, 17% of Washington County households report under $35,000; at the top, 35% report $100,000-plus. Poverty rate, Washington County: 7.5%; Illinois: 11.8%. Gini index for Washington County: 0.403. A household earning below the $78,224 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Towns and communities in Washington County
Here are the 12 most populous of the county's 12 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 54% of Washington County residents live in one of the 12. Gap between richest and poorest larger place: $21,247, Okawville over Nashville. Nashville and every other Washington County community use this county guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | city | 2,940 | $63,170 | $813 | 2 mi |
| Okawville | village | 1,299 | $84,417 | $783 | 9 mi |
| Irvington | village | 774 | $80,219 | $826 | 15 mi |
| Hoyleton | village | 523 | $71,094 | $1,063 | 10 mi |
| Ashley | city | 412 | $49,559 | $729 | 12 mi |
| Addieville | village | 294 | $99,583 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Oakdale | village | 264 | $106,364 | n/a | 8 mi |
| New Minden | village | 218 | $66,875 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Richview | village | 208 | $71,250 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Venedy | village | 161 | $86,250 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Radom | village | 146 | $55,833 | $992 | 13 mi |
| Du Bois | village | 122 | $53,750 | n/a | 14 mi |
Washington County next to its neighbors
Six nearby counties, 17 to 34 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Richest neighbor: Clinton County, $86,588. Poorest: Marion County, $61,240. Washington County: $78,224.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County | - | $78,224 | $818/mo | 84% |
| Clinton County, IL | 17 mi | $86,588 | $912/mo | 80% |
| Perry County, IL | 19 mi | $62,118 | $728/mo | 81% |
| Jefferson County, IL | 27 mi | $63,118 | $885/mo | 72% |
| St. Clair County, IL | 29 mi | $73,854 | $1,090/mo | 68% |
| Randolph County, IL | 30 mi | $68,131 | $780/mo | 77% |
| Marion County, IL | 34 mi | $61,240 | $794/mo | 75% |
Borrowing situations common in Washington County
Where the Washington County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Age, degrees and coverage in Washington County
Degree holders: 23% of adults over 25. Uninsured, Washington County: 3.4%; Illinois: 6.9%.
| Measure | Washington County | Gap to Illinois | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.5% | -14.4 pts | +1.3 pts |
| Work from home | 7.4% | -8.5 pts | -1.3 pts |
| No vehicle | 2.6% | -8.3 pts | -2.8 pts |
| Median age | 44.2 | +5.2 yrs | +2.7 yrs |
| Poverty rate | 7.5% | -4.3 pts | -5.6 pts |
| No health insurance | 3.4% | -3.5 pts | -4.5 pts |
| No high school diploma | 7.1% | -2.5 pts | n/a |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.3% | -1.5 pts | -0.1 pts |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.0% |
| 60+ min | 8.8% |
Room for a loan payment in Washington County
How much room does a median Washington County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $6,519 a month: gross income for a household at the Washington County median
- Housing at the median rent of $818 uses 13%
- Under a 35% cap, $2,282 total minus rent leaves $1,464
- With a 45% ceiling, about $2,115 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.
Verifying a lender from Washington County
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation is the place to verify any lender's Illinois license. If a Washington County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop. The Illinois page has statewide figures to set beside Washington County's.
A Washington County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Washington County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask a Washington County credit union about member loans.
More guides for Washington County
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Washington County household make?
About $78,224 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 6% below the Illinois median.
Can a Washington County renter afford a loan payment?
At the $818 median rent and $6,519 median monthly income, rent alone uses 13%; add other debts before a new payment.
Which towns does the Washington County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 12 Census places: Nashville, Okawville, Irvington, Hoyleton, Ashley.
Are Washington 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.
What agency protects Washington County borrowers?
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation at the state level and the CFPB federally.