McLean County, Illinois Income Statistics
McLean 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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B
McLean County Around averageWealthier than 82% of counties in Illinois
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | McLean County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $79,591 | $84,042 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $64,691 | $64,565 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 2.8% | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 14.1% | 15.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 11.8% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in McLean County is about 5% lower than in Illinois. Income has been growing slower in McLean County (2.8%/yr) than in Illinois (4.5%/yr).
About 14% of adults in McLean 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 McLean County, Illinois grew by 42.8% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $79,591 in 2024. That's an average of about 2.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in McLean County
| Metric | McLean County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.556 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $77,651 | $73,933 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $58,737 | $60,067 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 24.4% | 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 McLean County, it is 0.556, higher than Illinois's 0.547, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and about the same as the US's 0.552, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there.
Men's income is about 32% more than women's income in McLean County, Illinois. Over a 35-year career, a 32% wage gap accumulates to roughly $661,990 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in McLean County, Illinois has narrowed from about 27% to 24% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2015, and was narrowest at 20% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,863 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | McLean County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.1% | 5.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 17.5% | 15.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 15 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 2,776 people are unemployed in McLean County, Illinois.
The average commute time in McLean County is 15 minutes, shorter than the 23 minutes in Illinois.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in McLean County, Illinois has fallen from 6.6% to 3.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 6.6% in 2013 and fell as low as 3.0% in 2023.
McLean County, IL Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
McLean County, IL is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 171,556 residents against a local median of 16,695. Where McLean County, IL breaks from the counties next to it is income growth, sitting 26% below the local median of 3.8%/yr at 2.8%/yr. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 1.0%/yr on income growth, so McLean County, IL sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. McLean County, IL has the 6th 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McLean County, IL | 171,556 | $79,591 #3/6 | 2.8%/yr #6/6 | 3.1% #2/6 | 0.556 #6/6 |
| De Witt County, IL | 15,373 | $72,569 | 3.7%/yr | 4.0% | 0.499 |
| Woodford County, IL | 38,283 | $92,853 | 4.1%/yr | 3.5% | 0.520 |
| Livingston County, IL | 35,565 | $73,875 | 3.9%/yr | 3.5% | 0.527 |
| Piatt County, IL | 16,695 | $92,291 | 3.8%/yr | 2.8% | 0.486 |
| Ford County, IL | 13,406 | $62,499 | 3.1%/yr | 5.5% | 0.529 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, McLean County, Illinois has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it about on par with Illinois, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in McLean County, Illinois.
How Rich Is McLean County, Illinois?
McLean County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $79,591, about 5% lower than the Illinois average of $84,042.
How fast is household income rising in McLean County, Illinois?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in McLean County, Illinois rose 43%, from $55,739 to $79,591. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Illinois as a whole: +43% against +52%.
What was the median household income in McLean County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in McLean County, Illinois was $78,218, up 4% from $75,330 in 2022. The Illinois median that year was $82,182.
What was the median household income in McLean County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in McLean County, Illinois was $67,666. By 2024 it had risen 18% to $79,591.
Is unemployment high in McLean County, Illinois?
Unemployment in McLean County, Illinois is only 3.1%, 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 McLean County, Illinois?
The Gini coefficient in McLean County is 0.556. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is almost the same as the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed about as equally as in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in McLean County, Illinois?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in McLean County, Illinois has narrowed from about 27% to 24% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2015, and was narrowest at 20% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,863 since 2009.
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