Lee County, Illinois Income Statistics
Lee 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
Lee County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Lee County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $70,910 | $84,042 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $54,340 | $64,565 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.2% | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.7% | 15.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 7.1% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Lee County is about 16% lower than in Illinois. Income has been growing slower in Lee County (3.2%/yr) than in Illinois (4.5%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Lee 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 Lee County, Illinois grew by 40.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $70,910 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Lee County
| Metric | Lee County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.535 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $63,654 | $73,933 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $50,770 | $60,067 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 20.2% | 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 Lee County, it is 0.535, 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 25% more than women's income in Lee County, Illinois. Over a 35-year career, a 25% wage gap accumulates to roughly $450,940 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Lee County, Illinois has narrowed from about 26% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 29% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,377 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Lee County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2% | 5.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 5.5% | 15.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 817 people are unemployed in Lee County, Illinois.
The average commute time in Lee County is 17 minutes, shorter than the 23 minutes in Illinois.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Lee County, Illinois has fallen from 9.0% to 5.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.2% in 2012 and fell as low as 3.3% in 2020.
Lee County, IL Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Lee County, IL is the 4th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 33,849 residents against a local median of 51,485. Lee County, IL's income growth, at 3.2%/yr, runs 16% below the 3.8%/yr typical of the counties around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 2.7%/yr on income growth, so Lee County, IL sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Lee County, IL has the 4th 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee County, IL | 33,849 | $70,910 #5/6 | 3.2%/yr #4/6 | 5.2% #4/6 | 0.535 #5/6 |
| Ogle County, IL | 51,485 | $81,962 | 4.9%/yr | 5.0% | 0.512 |
| Bureau County, IL | 32,861 | $69,533 | 3.8%/yr | 4.3% | 0.511 |
| Putnam County, IL | 5,598 | $75,455 | 2.1%/yr | 4.2% | 0.523 |
| DeKalb County, IL | 100,702 | $71,059 | 3.0%/yr | 6.8% | 0.551 |
| LaSalle County, IL | 108,714 | $73,482 | 4.4%/yr | 5.3% | 0.524 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Lee 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 Lee County, Illinois.
How Rich Is Lee County, Illinois?
Lee 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 $70,910, about 16% lower than the Illinois average of $84,042.
How has median household income changed in Lee County, Illinois?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Lee County, Illinois rose 40%, from $50,582 to $70,910. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Illinois as a whole: +40% against +52%.
What was the median household income in Lee County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Lee County, Illinois was $68,712, up 7% from $64,410 in 2022. The Illinois median that year was $82,182.
What was the median household income in Lee County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Lee County, Illinois was $59,986. By 2024 it had risen 18% to $70,910.
What is the Gini coefficient in Lee County, Illinois?
The Gini coefficient in Lee County is 0.535. 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 Lee County, Illinois?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Lee County, Illinois has narrowed from about 26% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 29% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,377 since 2009.
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