Analysis finds 7 southern Illinois counties among 10 poorest in the state. See full list
Seven southern Illinois counties were recently named among the 10 poorest in the state, according to finance website SmartAsset.
The report named St. Clair County the 29th wealthiest in the Land of Lincoln, but several areas farther south didn’t fare as well. The most recent ranking reflects data from 2024, according to SmartAsset.
Alexander County has the lowest median income in the state at $40,365 and the lowest median home value at $40,082, according to SmartAsset. More than 25% of the county’s population lives in poverty, the U.S. Census Bureau reports. The county’s poverty rate has increased in recent years, with 2023’s rate coming in at around 21%.
SmartAsset used sources such as the Census Bureau, real estate site Zillow and the U.S. Internal Revenue Service to compile the ranking. The three metrics considered included investment income, property value and median income.
Statewide, Illinois’ median household income is $81,702, according to the Census Bureau, and 11.6% of the state’s residents live in poverty.
Purchasing power has been reduced across the U.S. recently, with a 3% overall inflation rate from January 2024 to January 2025. An additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods and more proposed tariffs are likely to cause consumer prices to increase, as well.
The poorest counties in Illinois
Here’s a look at how the 10 poorest counties in Illinois compare, according to SmartAsset:
1. Alexander County
Median income: $40,365
Investment income: $15,656
Median home value: $40,082
Poverty level: 25.8% (The poverty level is not used in Smart Asset’s ranking criteria. This poverty rate data is from the Census Bureau).
2. Pulaski County
Median income: $41,038
Investment income: $12,999
Median home value: $69,337
Poverty level: 22.4%
3. Jackson County
Median income: $44,847
Investment income: $28,868
Median home value: $109,525
Poverty level: 20.7%
4. McDonough County
Median income: $48,904
Investment income: $23,492
Median home value: $92,603
Poverty level: 19.9%
5. Franklin County
Median income: $51,031
Investment income: $19,635
Median home value: $80,910
Poverty level: 17.9%
6. Gallatin County
Median income: $51,868
Investment income: $20,379
Median home value: $70,643
Poverty level: 17.5%
7. Saline County
Median income: $51,710
Investment income: $23,023
Median home value: $74,185
Poverty level: 18.5%
8. Knox County
Median income: $50,263
Investment income: $28,130
Median home value: $99,798
Poverty level: 16.3%
9. Hardin County
Median income: $53,026
Investment income: $16,340
Median home value: $91,671
Poverty level: 19.2%
10. Vermilion County
Median income: $52,787
Investment income: $25,519
Median home value: $84,070
Poverty level: 19.5%
Several counties switched places from 2023’s ranking, which named these the 10 poorest Illinois counties: Alexander, Pulaski, Franklin, Saline, Gallatin, Hardin, Vermilion, Knox, Wabash and Lawrence.
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