Bureau County, Illinois Income Statistics
Bureau County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
C
Bureau County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Bureau County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $69,533 | $84,042 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $52,802 | $64,565 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.8% | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.7% | 15.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.9% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Bureau County is about 17% lower than in Illinois. Income has been growing slower in Bureau County (3.8%/yr) than in Illinois (4.5%/yr).
About 9% of adults in Bureau County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Illinois average of 15%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Bureau County, Illinois grew by 53.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $69,533 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Bureau County
| Metric | Bureau County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.511 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $65,345 | $73,933 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $44,807 | $60,067 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 31.4% | 18.8% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Bureau County, it is 0.511, lower than Illinois's 0.547, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 46% more than women's income in Bureau County, Illinois. Over a 35-year career, a 46% wage gap accumulates to roughly $718,830 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Bureau County, Illinois has narrowed from about 32% to 31% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 36% in 2020, and was narrowest at 31% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $6,576 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Bureau County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3% | 5.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 5.4% | 15.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 718 people are unemployed in Bureau County, Illinois.
The average commute time in Bureau County is 17 minutes, shorter than the 23 minutes in Illinois.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Bureau County, Illinois has fallen from 7.6% to 4.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.8% in 2013.
Bureau County, IL Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Bureau County, IL is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 32,861 residents against a local median of 11,645. Where Bureau County, IL breaks from the counties next to it is income growth, sitting 19% above the local median of 3.2%/yr at 3.8%/yr. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 1.8%/yr on income growth, so Bureau County, IL sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Bureau County, IL has the 2nd highest income growth of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bureau County, IL | 32,861 | $69,533 #4/6 | 3.8%/yr #2/6 | 4.3% #4/6 | 0.511 #2/6 |
| Putnam County, IL | 5,598 | $75,455 | 2.1%/yr | 4.2% | 0.523 |
| Stark County, IL | 5,307 | $64,462 | 2.6%/yr | 2.3% | 0.517 |
| Lee County, IL | 33,849 | $70,910 | 3.2%/yr | 5.2% | 0.535 |
| Marshall County, IL | 11,645 | $71,225 | 3.3%/yr | 3.8% | 0.525 |
| Whiteside County, IL | 54,941 | $67,250 | 3.9%/yr | 4.3% | 0.501 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Bureau County, Illinois has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Illinois, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Bureau County, Illinois.
How Rich Is Bureau County, Illinois?
Bureau County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $69,533, about 17% lower than the Illinois average of $84,042.
How fast is household income rising in Bureau County, Illinois?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Bureau County, Illinois rose 53%, from $45,398 to $69,533. Over the same years, income here outpaced Illinois as a whole: +53% against +52%.
What was the median household income in Bureau County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Bureau County, Illinois was $66,013, up 3% from $63,949 in 2022. The Illinois median that year was $82,182.
What was the median household income in Bureau County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Bureau County, Illinois was $56,294. By 2024 it had risen 24% to $69,533.
Is unemployment high in Bureau County, Illinois?
Unemployment in Bureau County, Illinois is only 4.3%, well below the Illinois rate of 5.8%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Bureau County, Illinois?
The Gini coefficient in Bureau County is 0.511. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Bureau County, Illinois?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Bureau County, Illinois has narrowed from about 32% to 31% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 36% in 2020, and was narrowest at 31% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $6,576 since 2009.
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