Stephenson County, Illinois Income Statistics
Stephenson 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
Stephenson County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Stephenson County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $64,970 | $84,042 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $49,312 | $64,565 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.6% | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.5% | 15.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.9% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Stephenson County is about 23% lower than in Illinois. Income has been growing faster in Stephenson County (4.6%/yr) than in Illinois (4.5%/yr).
About 7% of adults in Stephenson 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 Stephenson County, Illinois grew by 49.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $64,970 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.6% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Stephenson County
| Metric | Stephenson County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.498 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $58,515 | $73,933 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $46,100 | $60,067 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 21.2% | 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 Stephenson County, it is 0.498, 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 27% more than women's income in Stephenson County, Illinois. Over a 35-year career, a 27% wage gap accumulates to roughly $434,525 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Stephenson County, Illinois has narrowed from about 31% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 31% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,737 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Stephenson County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3% | 5.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 10.3% | 15.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 15 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 934 people are unemployed in Stephenson County, Illinois.
The average commute time in Stephenson County is 15 minutes, shorter than the 23 minutes in Illinois.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Stephenson County, Illinois has fallen from 10.4% to 4.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 12.3% in 2013.
Stephenson County, IL Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Stephenson County, IL is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 43,760 residents against a local median of 37,017. Stephenson County, IL's unemployment, at 4.3%, runs 19% above the 3.6% typical of the counties around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 4.6%/yr against a local median of 3.9%/yr, 18% above it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: income growth runs ahead of the neighbourhood while unemployment runs behind it, so Stephenson County, IL is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 4.2% on unemployment, so Stephenson County, IL sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Stephenson 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stephenson County, IL | 43,760 | $64,970 #5/6 | 4.6%/yr #2/6 | 4.3% #4/6 | 0.498 #3/6 |
| Green County, WI | 37,017 | $81,855 | 4.4%/yr | 3.6% | 0.478 |
| Carroll County, IL | 15,576 | $61,019 | 2.6%/yr | 3.1% | 0.548 |
| Ogle County, IL | 51,485 | $81,962 | 4.9%/yr | 5.0% | 0.512 |
| Winnebago County, IL | 283,258 | $66,225 | 3.7%/yr | 7.3% | 0.533 |
| Jo Daviess County, IL | 21,851 | $73,995 | 3.9%/yr | 3.6% | 0.477 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Stephenson 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 Stephenson County, Illinois.
How Rich Is Stephenson County, Illinois?
Stephenson 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 $64,970, about 23% lower than the Illinois average of $84,042.
How has median household income changed in Stephenson County, Illinois?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Stephenson County, Illinois rose 49%, from $43,567 to $64,970. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Illinois as a whole: +49% against +52%.
What was the median household income in Stephenson County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Stephenson County, Illinois was $62,422, up 9% from $57,261 in 2022. The Illinois median that year was $82,182.
What was the median household income in Stephenson County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Stephenson County, Illinois was $50,456. By 2024 it had risen 29% to $64,970.
Is unemployment high in Stephenson County, Illinois?
Unemployment in Stephenson County, Illinois is only 4.3%, 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 Stephenson County, Illinois?
The Gini coefficient in Stephenson County is 0.498. 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 Stephenson County, Illinois?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Stephenson County, Illinois has narrowed from about 31% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 31% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,737 since 2009.
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