Jefferson County, Illinois Income Statistics
Jefferson 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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C
Jefferson County Below averageLess wealthy than 75% of counties in Illinois
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Jefferson County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $62,660 | $84,042 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $51,955 | $64,565 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.6% | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.2% | 15.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.6% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Jefferson County is about 25% lower than in Illinois. Income has been growing faster in Jefferson County (4.6%/yr) than in Illinois (4.5%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County, Illinois grew by 55.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $62,660 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.6% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Jefferson County
| Metric | Jefferson County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.522 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $60,603 | $73,933 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $45,676 | $60,067 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 24.6% | 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 Jefferson County, it is 0.522, 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 33% more than women's income in Jefferson County, Illinois. Over a 35-year career, a 33% wage gap accumulates to roughly $522,445 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Jefferson County, Illinois has narrowed from about 29% to 25% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 31% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,933 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Jefferson County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8% | 5.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 5.4% | 15.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 16 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 1,002 people are unemployed in Jefferson County, Illinois.
The average commute time in Jefferson County is 16 minutes, shorter than the 23 minutes in Illinois.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Jefferson County, Illinois has fallen from 9.9% to 5.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.7% in 2013.
Jefferson County, IL Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Jefferson County, IL is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 36,549 residents against a local median of 20,638. Jefferson County, IL sits close to the middle of its own neighbourhood. No measure below is more than 15% off the local median, so the choice between these counties turns on things this data does not capture.
The largest of those small differences is unemployment, 12% above the local median at 5.8% against 5.1%. Jefferson County, IL has the 4th 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County, IL | 36,549 | $62,660 #4/6 | 4.6%/yr #4/6 | 5.8% #4/6 | 0.522 #4/6 |
| Franklin County, IL | 37,318 | $57,264 | 4.8%/yr | 7.6% | 0.537 |
| Marion County, IL | 37,000 | $61,117 | 4.3%/yr | 5.9% | 0.507 |
| Hamilton County, IL | 7,916 | $64,899 | 4.8%/yr | 5.1% | 0.517 |
| Washington County, IL | 13,623 | $76,775 | 4.2%/yr | 4.3% | 0.490 |
| Perry County, IL | 20,638 | $63,094 | 4.8%/yr | 4.5% | 0.564 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Jefferson County, Illinois has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it somewhat worse than Illinois, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Jefferson County, Illinois.
How Rich Is Jefferson County, Illinois?
Jefferson 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 $62,660, about 25% lower than the Illinois average of $84,042.
Are incomes growing in Jefferson County, Illinois?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Jefferson County, Illinois rose 55%, from $40,311 to $62,660. Over the same years, income here outpaced Illinois as a whole: +55% against +52%.
What was the median household income in Jefferson County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Jefferson County, Illinois was $61,314, up 5% from $58,135 in 2022. The Illinois median that year was $82,182.
What was the median household income in Jefferson County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Jefferson County, Illinois was $51,741. By 2024 it had risen 21% to $62,660.
What is the Gini coefficient in Jefferson County, Illinois?
The Gini coefficient in Jefferson County is 0.522. 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 Jefferson County, Illinois?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Jefferson County, Illinois has narrowed from about 29% to 25% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 31% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,933 since 2009.
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