Hardin County, Illinois Income Statistics
Hardin 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.
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D
Hardin County Well below averageLess wealthy than 93% of counties in Illinois
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Hardin County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $53,842 | $84,042 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $47,539 | $64,565 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.1% | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.3% | 15.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 3.1% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Hardin County is about 36% lower than in Illinois. Income has been growing slower in Hardin County (4.1%/yr) than in Illinois (4.5%/yr).
About 5% of adults in Hardin 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 Hardin County, Illinois grew by 64.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $53,842 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Hardin County
| Metric | Hardin County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.515 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $55,337 | $73,933 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $38,708 | $60,067 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 30.0% | 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 Hardin County, it is 0.515, 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 43% more than women's income in Hardin County, Illinois. Over a 35-year career, a 43% wage gap accumulates to roughly $582,015 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Hardin County, Illinois has widened from about 21% to 30% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 50% in 2014, and was narrowest at 14% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $9,063 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Hardin County widened by 9.4 points while Illinois's narrowed by 6.5 points.
Employment
| Metric | Hardin County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% | 5.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 2.2% | 15.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 23 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 36 people are unemployed in Hardin County, Illinois.
The average commute time in Hardin County is 23 minutes, about the same as in Illinois.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Hardin County, Illinois has fallen from 8.7% to 2.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 20.0% in 2017 and fell as low as 2.6% in 2022.
Hardin County, IL Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Hardin County, IL is the smallest of the 6 counties compared here, 3,602 residents against a local median of 8,899. Where Hardin County, IL breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 19% below the local median of 3.4% at 2.8%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 6.5% on unemployment, so Hardin County, IL sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Hardin County, IL has the 2nd 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardin County, IL | 3,602 | $53,842 #5/6 | 4.1%/yr #4/6 | 2.8% #2/6 | 0.515 #3/6 |
| Crittenden County, KY | 8,979 | $47,070 | 2.5%/yr | 3.4% | 0.556 |
| Gallatin County, IL | 4,818 | $59,349 | 4.7%/yr | 9.2% | 0.510 |
| Pope County, IL | 3,739 | $60,050 | 5.8%/yr | 2.8% | 0.533 |
| Livingston County, KY | 8,899 | $59,340 | 3.9%/yr | 4.2% | 0.513 |
| Union County, KY | 13,258 | $60,386 | 4.8%/yr | 2.7% | 0.546 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Hardin County, Illinois has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Illinois, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Hardin County, Illinois.
How Rich Is Hardin County, Illinois?
Hardin County has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $53,842, about 36% lower than the Illinois average of $84,042.
How fast is household income rising in Hardin County, Illinois?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Hardin County, Illinois rose 64%, from $32,766 to $53,842. Over the same years, income here outpaced Illinois as a whole: +64% against +52%.
What was the median household income in Hardin County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Hardin County, Illinois was $54,646, up 5% from $51,852 in 2022. The Illinois median that year was $82,182.
What was the median household income in Hardin County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Hardin County, Illinois was $50,583. By 2024 it had risen 6% to $53,842.
Is unemployment high in Hardin County, Illinois?
Unemployment in Hardin County, Illinois is only 2.8%, 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 Hardin County, Illinois?
The Gini coefficient in Hardin County is 0.515. 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 Hardin County, Illinois?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Hardin County, Illinois has widened from about 21% to 30% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 50% in 2014, and was narrowest at 14% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $9,063 since 2009.
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