Washington County, Illinois Income Statistics
Washington 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
Washington County Around averageWealthier than 88% of counties in Illinois
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Washington County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $76,775 | $84,042 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $55,310 | $64,565 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.2% | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 9.4% | 15.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.4% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Washington County is about 9% lower than in Illinois. Income has been growing slower in Washington County (4.2%/yr) than in Illinois (4.5%/yr).
About 9% of adults in Washington 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 Washington County, Illinois grew by 47.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $76,775 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Washington County
| Metric | Washington County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.490 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $64,718 | $73,933 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $53,448 | $60,067 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 17.4% | 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 Washington County, it is 0.490, 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 Washington County, Illinois. Over a 35-year career, a 21% wage gap accumulates to roughly $394,450 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Washington County, Illinois has narrowed from about 34% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 17% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $4,769 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Washington County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3% | 5.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 7.4% | 15.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 22 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 308 people are unemployed in Washington County, Illinois.
The average commute time in Washington County is 22 minutes, shorter than the 23 minutes in Illinois.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Washington County, Illinois has fallen from 4.4% to 4.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 5.9% in 2014 and fell as low as 4.1% in 2023.
Washington County, IL Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Washington County, IL is the smallest of the 6 counties compared here, 13,623 residents against a local median of 36,549. Washington County, IL sits close to the middle of its own neighbourhood. No measure below is more than 15% off the local median, so the choice between these counties turns on things this data does not capture.
The largest of those small differences is unemployment, 14% below the local median at 4.3% against 5.0%. Washington County, IL has the 2nd 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County, IL | 13,623 | $76,775 #2/6 | 4.2%/yr #5/6 | 4.3% #2/6 | 0.490 #1/6 |
| Clinton County, IL | 36,954 | $86,530 | 3.7%/yr | 3.4% | 0.517 |
| Perry County, IL | 20,638 | $63,094 | 4.8%/yr | 4.5% | 0.564 |
| Jefferson County, IL | 36,549 | $62,660 | 4.6%/yr | 5.8% | 0.522 |
| Randolph County, IL | 30,051 | $69,106 | 4.6%/yr | 5.0% | 0.555 |
| St. Clair County, IL | 253,661 | $73,876 | 5.0%/yr | 5.8% | 0.541 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Washington County, Illinois has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than Illinois, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Washington County, Illinois.
How Rich Is Washington County, Illinois?
Washington 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 $76,775, about 9% lower than the Illinois average of $84,042.
Are incomes growing in Washington County, Illinois?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Washington County, Illinois rose 48%, from $51,971 to $76,775. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Illinois as a whole: +48% against +52%.
What was the median household income in Washington County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Washington County, Illinois was $75,793, up 1% from $75,097 in 2022. The Illinois median that year was $82,182.
What was the median household income in Washington County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Washington County, Illinois was $65,693. By 2024 it had risen 17% to $76,775.
How strong is the job market in Washington County, Illinois?
Unemployment in Washington 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 Washington County, Illinois?
The Gini coefficient in Washington County is 0.490. 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 Washington County, Illinois?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Washington County, Illinois has narrowed from about 34% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 17% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $4,769 since 2009.
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