Monroe County, Illinois Income Statistics
Monroe 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.
-
A
Monroe County Above averageAmong the top 3 wealthiest counties in Illinois
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Monroe County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $103,327 | $84,042 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $71,543 | $64,565 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.4% | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 16.8% | 15.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 16.7% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Monroe County is about 23% higher than in Illinois. Income has been growing slower in Monroe County (4.4%/yr) than in Illinois (4.5%/yr).
About 17% of adults in Monroe County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the Illinois average of 15%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Monroe County, Illinois grew by 56.8% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $103,327 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.4% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Monroe County
| Metric | Monroe County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.478 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $79,644 | $73,933 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $65,671 | $60,067 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 17.5% | 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 Monroe County, it is 0.478, 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 21% more than women's income in Monroe County, Illinois. Over a 35-year career, a 21% wage gap accumulates to roughly $489,055 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Monroe County, Illinois has narrowed from about 29% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 31% in 2012, and was narrowest at 17% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,891 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Monroe County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 1.9% | 5.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 12.6% | 15.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 28 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 370 people are unemployed in Monroe County, Illinois.
The average commute time in Monroe County is 28 minutes, longer than the 23 minutes in Illinois.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Monroe County, Illinois has fallen from 5.4% to 1.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 6.3% in 2013 and fell as low as 1.7% in 2022.
Monroe County, IL Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Monroe County, IL is the 3rd largest of the 5 counties compared here, 35,033 residents against a local median of 129,749. Where Monroe County, IL breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 58% below the local median of 4.6% at 1.9%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Median household income tells the same story from another angle: $103,327 against a local median of $71,491, 45% above it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Monroe County, IL is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread 2.6% on unemployment, so Monroe County, IL sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Monroe County, IL has the lowest unemployment of the 5 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe County, IL | 35,033 | $103,327 #1/5 | 4.4%/yr #4/5 | 1.9% #1/5 | 0.478 #1/5 |
| St. Clair County, IL | 253,661 | $73,876 | 5.0%/yr | 5.8% | 0.541 |
| Jefferson County, MO | 229,447 | $82,868 | 4.5%/yr | 3.2% | 0.505 |
| Ste. Genevieve County, MO | 18,571 | $68,236 | 4.2%/yr | 4.2% | 0.514 |
| Randolph County, IL | 30,051 | $69,106 | 4.6%/yr | 5.0% | 0.555 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Monroe County, Illinois has an overall wealth index grade of A, making it somewhat better than Illinois, and notably better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Monroe County, Illinois.
How Rich Is Monroe County, Illinois?
Monroe County has a wealth index grade of A. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; an A grade means residents are much better off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $103,327, about 23% higher than the Illinois average of $84,042.
How fast is household income rising in Monroe County, Illinois?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Monroe County, Illinois rose 57%, from $65,881 to $103,327. Over the same years, income here outpaced Illinois as a whole: +57% against +52%.
What was the median household income in Monroe County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Monroe County, Illinois was $101,817, up 1% from $101,088 in 2022. The Illinois median that year was $82,182.
What was the median household income in Monroe County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Monroe County, Illinois was $88,784. By 2024 it had risen 16% to $103,327.
Is it hard to find a job in Monroe County, Illinois?
Unemployment in Monroe County, Illinois is only 1.9%, 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 Monroe County, Illinois?
The Gini coefficient in Monroe County is 0.478. 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 Monroe County, Illinois?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Monroe County, Illinois has narrowed from about 29% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 31% in 2012, and was narrowest at 17% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,891 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →