Ford County, Illinois Income Statistics
Ford 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
Ford County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Ford County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $62,499 | $84,042 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $52,353 | $64,565 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.1% | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.0% | 15.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.4% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Ford County is about 26% lower than in Illinois. Income has been growing slower in Ford County (3.1%/yr) than in Illinois (4.5%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Ford 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 Ford County, Illinois grew by 36.5% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $62,499 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Ford County
| Metric | Ford County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.529 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $65,467 | $73,933 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $47,226 | $60,067 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 27.9% | 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 Ford County, it is 0.529, 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 39% more than women's income in Ford County, Illinois. Over a 35-year career, a 39% wage gap accumulates to roughly $638,435 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Ford County, Illinois has narrowed from about 33% to 28% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 19% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,333 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Ford County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5% | 5.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 9.2% | 15.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 363 people are unemployed in Ford County, Illinois.
The average commute time in Ford County is 21 minutes, shorter than the 23 minutes in Illinois.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Ford County, Illinois has fallen from 9.1% to 5.5% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.1% in 2014 and fell as low as 4.4% in 2020.
Ford County, IL Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Ford County, IL is the smallest of the 6 counties compared here, 13,406 residents against a local median of 72,384. Where Ford County, IL breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 27% above the local median of 4.3% at 5.5%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 3.1% on unemployment, so Ford County, IL sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Ford County, IL has the 5th lowest unemployment 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford County, IL | 13,406 | $62,499 #5/6 | 3.1%/yr #5/6 | 5.5% #5/6 | 0.529 #3/6 |
| Iroquois County, IL | 26,449 | $66,798 | 4.2%/yr | 4.5% | 0.516 |
| Livingston County, IL | 35,565 | $73,875 | 3.9%/yr | 3.5% | 0.527 |
| Champaign County, IL | 208,737 | $64,164 | 3.4%/yr | 4.3% | 0.585 |
| McLean County, IL | 171,556 | $79,591 | 2.8%/yr | 3.1% | 0.556 |
| Vermilion County, IL | 72,384 | $57,282 | 3.4%/yr | 6.1% | 0.535 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Ford 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 Ford County, Illinois.
How Rich Is Ford County, Illinois?
Ford 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 $62,499, about 26% lower than the Illinois average of $84,042.
How fast is household income rising in Ford County, Illinois?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Ford County, Illinois rose 36%, from $45,789 to $62,499. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Illinois as a whole: +36% against +52%.
What was the median household income in Ford County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Ford County, Illinois was $61,474, up 5% from $58,678 in 2022. The Illinois median that year was $82,182.
What was the median household income in Ford County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Ford County, Illinois was $50,597. By 2024 it had risen 24% to $62,499.
What is the Gini coefficient in Ford County, Illinois?
The Gini coefficient in Ford County is 0.529. 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 Ford County, Illinois?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Ford County, Illinois has narrowed from about 33% to 28% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 19% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,333 since 2009.
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