Shelby County, Illinois Income Statistics
Shelby 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
Shelby County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Shelby County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $72,365 | $84,042 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $49,827 | $64,565 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.2% | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.3% | 15.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.3% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Shelby County is about 14% lower than in Illinois. Income has been growing faster in Shelby County (5.2%/yr) than in Illinois (4.5%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Shelby 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 Shelby County, Illinois grew by 59.8% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $72,365 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Shelby County
| Metric | Shelby County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.478 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $58,791 | $73,933 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $47,926 | $60,067 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 18.5% | 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 Shelby 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 23% more than women's income in Shelby County, Illinois. Over a 35-year career, a 23% wage gap accumulates to roughly $380,275 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Shelby County, Illinois has narrowed from about 29% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 33% in 2015, and was narrowest at 16% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $822 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Shelby County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.0% | 5.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 6.5% | 15.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 313 people are unemployed in Shelby County, Illinois.
The average commute time in Shelby County is 17 minutes, shorter than the 23 minutes in Illinois.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Shelby County, Illinois has fallen from 6.3% to 3.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 7.4% in 2013.
Shelby County, IL Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Shelby County, IL is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 20,718 residents against a local median of 33,536. Shelby County, IL's income growth, at 5.2%/yr, runs 29% above the 4.0%/yr typical of the counties around it. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Unemployment tells the same story from another angle: 3.0% against a local median of 3.8%, 20% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Shelby County, IL is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread 2.0%/yr on income growth, so Shelby County, IL sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Shelby County, IL has the 2nd 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby County, IL | 20,718 | $72,365 #3/6 | 5.2%/yr #2/6 | 3.0% #3/6 | 0.478 #1/6 |
| Moultrie County, IL | 14,423 | $72,471 | 4.5%/yr | 2.2% | 0.532 |
| Effingham County, IL | 34,520 | $81,070 | 5.6%/yr | 2.1% | 0.494 |
| Fayette County, IL | 21,314 | $60,976 | 4.0%/yr | 3.8% | 0.545 |
| Macon County, IL | 101,849 | $62,654 | 3.6%/yr | 6.8% | 0.535 |
| Christian County, IL | 33,536 | $62,799 | 3.7%/yr | 4.6% | 0.536 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Shelby 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 Shelby County, Illinois.
How Rich Is Shelby County, Illinois?
Shelby 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 $72,365, about 14% lower than the Illinois average of $84,042.
How has median household income changed in Shelby County, Illinois?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Shelby County, Illinois rose 60%, from $45,287 to $72,365. Over the same years, income here outpaced Illinois as a whole: +60% against +52%.
What was the median household income in Shelby County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Shelby County, Illinois was $67,915, up 3% from $65,940 in 2022. The Illinois median that year was $82,182.
What was the median household income in Shelby County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Shelby County, Illinois was $59,013. By 2024 it had risen 23% to $72,365.
Is unemployment high in Shelby County, Illinois?
Unemployment in Shelby County, Illinois is only 3.0%, 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 Shelby County, Illinois?
The Gini coefficient in Shelby 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 Shelby County, Illinois?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Shelby County, Illinois has narrowed from about 29% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 33% in 2015, and was narrowest at 16% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $822 since 2009.
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