These southern Illinois counties are among 10 poorest in the state, ranking indicates

Eight southern Illinois counties were recently named among the poorest in the state, according to financial website SmartAsset.

The report named St. Clair County the 28th wealthiest in the Land of Lincoln, but several areas farther south didn’t fare as well.

Alexander County has the lowest median income in the state at $39,871 and the lowest median home value at $30,498, according to SmartAsset. More than 21% of the county’s population lives in poverty, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

SmartAsset used sources such as the Census Bureau, real estate site Zillow and the U.S. Internal Revenue Service to compile the ranking.

Statewide, Illinois’ median income is $72,563, according to the Census Bureau, and 12.1% of the state’s residents live in poverty.

The poorest counties in Illinois

Here’s how the 10 poorest counties in Illinois compare, according to SmartAsset:

1. Alexander County

• Median income: $39,871

• Investment income: $10,140

• Median home value: $30,498

• Poverty level: 21.8% of residents live in poverty

2. Pulaski County

• Median income: $40,197

• Investment income: $12,237

• Median home value: $49,568

• Poverty level: 22.3%

3. Franklin County

• Median income: $47,751

• Investment income: $17,086

• Median home value: $66,980

• Poverty level: 16.5%

4. Saline County

• Median income: $47,541

• Investment income: $20,686

• Median home value: $54,863

• Poverty level: 17.6%

5. Gallatin County

• Median income: $52,597

• Investment income: $20,055

• Median home value: $49,905

• Poverty level: 17.4%

6. Hardin County

• Median income: $51,738

• Investment income: $7,094

• Median home value: $74,746

• Poverty level: 18.7%

7. Vermilion County

• Median income: $49,063

• Investment income: $20,603

• Median home value: $71,184

• Poverty level: 19.7%

8. Knox County

• Median income: $45,994

• Investment income: $21,906

• Median home value: $88,186

• Poverty level: 14.7%

9. Wabash County

• Median income: $49,680

• Investment income: $26,641

• Median home value: $89,660

• Poverty level: 14.5%

10. Lawrence County

1. Median income: $52,020

2. Investment income: $20,827

3. Median home value: $56,656

4. Poverty level: 19.2%

Meredith Howard

Belleville News-Democrat

Meredith Howard is a service journalist with the Belleville News-Democrat. She is a Baylor University graduate and has previously freelanced with the Illinois Times and the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. Support my work with a digital subscription