Hardin County, IL Population Statistics: Density Map Data

Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.

Area Snapshot Statistics

Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.

C Less healthy than 91% of counties in Illinois
D Less wealthy than 94% of counties in Illinois
F Least educated county in Illinois

Population: density and quick facts

Metric Hardin County Illinois Avg U.S. Average
Population 3,695 12,497,595 334,821,731
Population density (per sq mi) 20.4 215.8 85.8
Population growth (%/yr) -2.00% -0.18% 0.57%
Median age 55.0 37.3 37.1
Households 1,484 5,000,691 128,459,983

Population in Hardin County declined by 19.0% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 3,623 in 2023.

Population Growth 2009–2023

Year Hardin County

Race & Ethnicity

Group Share

Economy

Hardin County has a the economy index of D, which means it is barely prosperous.

Metric Hardin County Illinois Avg U.S. Average
Median household income $54,646 $82,179 $78,145
Income growth (%/yr) 4.85% 4.78% 5.07%
Unemployment rate 3.3% 5.8% 5.2%

The median household income in Hardin County is about 34% lower than in Illinois.

Detailed wealth and income breakdown →

Housing

Metric Hardin County Illinois Avg U.S. Average
Median home price $58,888 $162,405 $242,182
Median rent $341 $1,226 $1,342
Homeownership rate 80.7% 66.8% 65.1%

The median home price in Hardin County is about 14.4 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $341 per month for that long.

Full housing market analysis →

Commute Time & Mobility

Commuters in Hardin County spend about 60 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 252 hours, about 10.5 full days, spent commuting.

Metric Hardin County Illinois Avg U.S. Average
One-way commute (min) 30.2 23.8 22.5
Round-trip commute (min) 60.5 47.6 44.9
Yearly time spent (hours) 252 198 187
Estimated yearly cost $7,812 $6,148 $5,803
Work from home 1.4% 14.0% 13.4%
Highway traffic (vehicles/day) 1,867 7,977 8,813
Local road traffic (vehicles/day) 166 1,547 1,355

Fastest commutes among counties in Illinois: Edgar County (12.1 min), Brown County (12.8 min), McDonough County (13.0 min).
Slowest: Calhoun County (46.4 min), Cook County (30.8 min), Kendall County (30.7 min).

The average commute time in Hardin County is 30 minutes, longer than the 24 minutes in Illinois.

Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.

Commute and transport details →

Education & Households

Hardin County has a education index of F, which means it scores poorly in education.

Metric Hardin County Illinois Avg U.S. Average
Bachelor's degree or higher 11.4% 34.1% 31.6%
Average household size 2.36 2.48 2.54

Highest education index among counties in Illinois: DuPage County (0.4), Champaign County (0.4), Lake County (0.4).
Lowest: Hardin County (0.2), Fayette County (0.2), Perry County (0.2).

Health

Hardin County has a health index of C, which means it is somewhat healthy.

Metric Hardin County Illinois Avg U.S. Average
Life expectancy (years) 78.0 77.9 78.3
Self-rated poor health 18.4% 15.6% 16.3%
Smokers 21.9% 19.2% 19.0%

Highest health index among counties in Illinois: DuPage County (0.8), Champaign County (0.8), Monroe County (0.8).
Lowest: Alexander County (0.8), Pulaski County (0.8), Gallatin County (0.8).

Full health data →

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Hardin County, Illinois.

What is the population of Hardin County, Illinois?

The population of Hardin County, Illinois is 3,695, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.

What is the population density of Hardin County, Illinois?

The population density of Hardin County, Illinois is 20.4 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.

What is the median household income in Hardin County, Illinois?

The median household income in Hardin County, Illinois is $54,646, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.

What is the median home price in Hardin County, Illinois?

The median home price in Hardin County, Illinois is $58,888, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.

What is the unemployment rate in Hardin County, Illinois?

The unemployment rate in Hardin County, Illinois is 3.3%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.