1st Advantage MortgageAbout 83% of Will County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $109,984. 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
- Who lives in Will County
- How much Will County households make
- Jobs and commutes in Will County
- Will County housing compared with Illinois
- Will County towns compared
- Will County and the counties next door
- People and households in Will County
- Local borrowing considerations for Will County
- A Will County household budget, worked through
- Checking a lender's license in Illinois
- Checklist for Will County applicants
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Will County
Will County is home to about 701,462 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 4th most populous of 102 county-level areas in Illinois. Packed into 836 square miles, that is close to 839 residents for every square mile of land. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 45 places in the county (23 incorporated, 22 census-designated); the largest is Joliet, with about 150,445 residents, or 21% of the county.
How much Will County households make
The median household income in Will County is $109,984; statewide it is $83,390, so Will County runs 32% above Illinois as a whole.
| Yearly household income | Will County | Gap to Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 13.0% | -7.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 32.6% | -4.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 36.1% | +8.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 18.3% | +4.4 pts |
About 13% of households earn under $35,000, while 54% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 7.3%, 4 points lower than the state's 11.8%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.416 (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 Will County median.
Jobs and commutes in Will County
The biggest employer of Will County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 21% of workers, followed by professional and administrative services (12%). Transportation, warehousing and utilities stands out: 9% of workers here, versus 7% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.9% in Will County. About 73% drive to work alone and 25% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 3.9% of the total (11.0% statewide).
| Where residents work | Will County | Difference from Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.5% | -2.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.9% | -1.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.8% | +1.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.8% | -0.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.4% | +2.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.7% | -0.5 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Will County housing compared with Illinois
A typical Will County rental runs $1,462 a month including utilities, which is 15% above Illinois. By the Census definition, 51% of Will County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $319,600, or 2.9 years of median income. Owners occupy 83% of homes. The median year built is 1992.
| Measure | Will County | Illinois | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,462/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $319,600 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 83% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 27% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 1.3% | 2.3% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 4% | 8% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare). When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Will County towns compared
The table lists the 14 largest of 45 Census places in Will County, by population. Together all 45 hold about 575,764 people, so roughly 18% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $154,375 at the median in Frankfort, $51,625 in Preston Heights. Linked names have their own city guide; this page covers every other Will County community.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joliet | city | 150,445 | $92,201 | $1,276 | 10 mi |
| Orland Park | village | 57,916 | $98,910 | $1,440 | 13 mi |
| Tinley Park | village | 54,842 | $105,189 | $1,495 | 12 mi |
| Romeoville | village | 41,152 | $106,325 | $1,886 | 14 mi |
| New Lenox | village | 28,006 | $140,865 | $1,431 | 4 mi |
| Lockport | city | 26,409 | $111,981 | $1,525 | 10 mi |
| Homer Glen | village | 24,529 | $136,678 | $1,861 | 11 mi |
| Park Forest | village | 21,156 | $61,072 | $1,365 | 15 mi |
| Frankfort | village | 20,651 | $154,375 | $2,442 | 7 mi |
| Crest Hill | city | 20,628 | $73,033 | $1,481 | 11 mi |
| Mokena | village | 20,021 | $123,889 | $1,254 | 8 mi |
| Shorewood | village | 18,343 | $122,105 | $1,479 | 13 mi |
| Manhattan | village | 11,026 | $128,522 | $1,213 | 2 mi |
| Frankfort Square | CDP | 9,560 | $126,897 | $1,622 | 10 mi |
Will County and the counties next door
Distances run center to center, from Kankakee County at 22 miles out to Cook County at 35. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Will County; DuPage County is highest at $112,096 and Kankakee County lowest at $71,281. Some neighbors are in Indiana. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Will County resident follows Illinois rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Will County | - | $109,984 | $1,462/mo | 83% |
| Kankakee County, IL | 22 mi | $71,281 | $1,097/mo | 70% |
| Grundy County, IL | 24 mi | $92,235 | $1,177/mo | 74% |
| Kendall County, IL | 25 mi | $111,601 | $1,781/mo | 84% |
| DuPage County, IL | 28 mi | $112,096 | $1,688/mo | 73% |
| Lake County, IN | 31 mi | $71,493 | $1,131/mo | 72% |
| Cook County, IL | 35 mi | $83,498 | $1,435/mo | 58% |
People and households in Will County
College graduates make up 37% of the adult population. 5.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Will County | Illinois | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.1 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 37.5% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.2% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.2% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.9% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 14.7% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.3% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.9% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 20.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 12.2% |
| 60+ min | 13.1% |
Local borrowing considerations for Will County
Where the Will County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Vehicle repairs. 25% of Will County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 54% of Will County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Rent squeeze. 51% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
A Will County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Will County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Will County: $9,165
- Housing at the median rent of $1,462 uses 16%
- Under a 36% cap, $3,300 total minus rent leaves $1,838
- Under a 43% cap, $3,941 total minus rent leaves $2,479
If your rent is above $1,462, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Checking a lender's license in Illinois
Consumer lenders serving Will County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Illinois that is the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Illinois guide.
Checklist for Will County applicants
Quick steps for Will County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Illinois.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Related local guides
Guides that cover parts of Will County:
Frequently asked questions
Is Will County a high-income county?
Its $109,984 median ranks 4th of 102 Illinois counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Will County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,462 against $1,274 statewide, and 51% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Will County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 83% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Will County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 45 Census places: Joliet, Orland Park, Tinley Park, Romeoville, New Lenox.
Will a Will County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Illinois as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.