These southern Illinois counties are among poorest in the state, report finds
.JPG "Here’s how the 10 poorest counties in Illinois compared, according to a report from financial website SmartAsset.")
Seven of Illinois’ 10 poorest counties are located in the state’s southern region, according to a recent report from financial website SmartAsset.
The report named St. Clair County the 32nd wealthiest in the state, but several areas farther south didn’t fare as well. The most recent ranking reflects data updated in 2025, according to SmartAsset.
Pulaski County had the lowest median income in the state at $43,227, the analysis found. More than 22% of the county’s population lives in poverty, the U.S. Census Bureau reports.
Alexander County had the lowest median home value in the analysis, at $45,201. Illinois’ statewide average home value is $278,351, according to popular real estate company Zillow.
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, median home value and median income.
In eight of Illinois’ 10 poorest counties, median incomes are below the threshold needed to afford a typically priced, one-bedroom rental home, according to data from the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
The NLIHC reports Illinois residents need to make $53,669 annually to afford a one-bedroom rental home, or $61,997 for a typically priced two-bedroom rental. Affordable housing is much less accessible to those making minimum wage — at Illinois’ $15 non-tipped minimum wage, it would take 69 hours of work per week to affordably rent a one-bedroom, or 79 hours per week for a two-bedroom rental.
Inflation and tariffs have further reduced affordability. The U.S. has seen a 12-month inflation rate for groceries of 2.7%, and popular items such as beef, eggs and non-alcoholic beverages have seen steeper spikes. Tariffs on goods imported from China, Mexico, Canada and other countries have led to increased consumer prices in the U.S. for common holiday gifts such as games and toys, electronics and more.
Statewide, Illinois’ median household income is $81,702, according to the Census Bureau, and 11.6% of the state’s residents live in poverty.
What are 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: $43,523
- Investment income: $14,856
- Median home value: $45,201
- Poverty rate: 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: $43,227
- Investment income: $13,033
- Median home value: $79,842
- Poverty rate: 22.4%
3. Jackson County
- Median income: $45,572
- Investment income: $22,395
- Median home value: $97,750
- Poverty rate: 20.7%
4. McDonough County
- Median income: $50,434
- Investment income: $21,551
- Median home value: $89,630
- Poverty rate: 19.9%
5. Lawrence County
- Median income: $53,438
- Investment income: $21,658
- Median home value: $74,444
- Poverty rate: 18.3%
6. Franklin County
- Median income: $53,471
- Investment income: $14,957
- Median home value: $101,532
- Poverty rate: 17.9%
7. Vermilion County
- Median income: $54,537
- Investment income: $18,116
- Median home value: $75,123
- Poverty rate: 19.5%
8. Knox County
- Median income: $53,291
- Investment income: $21,255
- Median home value: $94,166
- Poverty rate: 16.3%
9. Saline County
- Median income: $54,945
- Investment income: $20,032
- Median home value: $72,915
- Poverty rate: 18.5%
10. Gallatin County
- Median income: $54,626
- Investment income: $25,060
- Median home value: $65,323
- Poverty rate: 17.5%
Several counties switched places from 2024’s ranking, which named Alexander, Pulaski, Jackson, McDonough, Franklin, Gallatin, Saline, Knox, Hardin and Vermilion these the 10 poorest in Illinois.
Do you have a question about the Illinois or metro-east economy for the News-Democrat? We’d like to hear from you. Fill out our Metro-east Matters form below.
