Top 30 Illinois Counties With the Largest Decline in Median Household Income

Each year, the U.S. Census Bureau releases updated estimates of poverty and income statistics through its Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates program.

According to the Census Bureau, the main objective of SAIPE is to provide greater insight into the administration of federal programs and the allocation of federal funds to local jurisdictions. The program highlights trends in both poverty and median household income in every state, county and school district.

To avoid information overload, we only looked at counties in Illinois that have had the largest decline in median household income between 2000 and 2014 after being adjusted for inflation. The Census Bureau flags counties in which there has been at least a 10 percent decrease in income.

Following is a map and list of the 30 counties that were flagged, along with the median household income in 2000 (adjusted for inflation) and 2014, the percent change and the county’s most common employer in 2013, according to the most recent data from Census Bureau’s County Business Patterns.

Top 30 counties with largest decline in median household income in Illinois

*Median household income for 2000 is adjusted for inflation

30. Jersey County

• 2014: $52,493
• 2000: $58,500
• Percent change: -10%

29. Massac County

• 2014: $40,590
• 2000: $45,263
• Percent change: -10%

28. Morgan County

• 2014: $46,406
• 2000: $51,955
• Percent change: -11%

27. Jo Daviess County

• 2014: $51,282
• 2000: $57,432
• Percent change: -11%

26. McLean County

• 2014: $60,460
• 2000: $67,873
• Percent change: -11%

25. Ogle County

• 2014: $57,126
• 2000: $64,372
• Percent change: -11%

24. Henry County

• 2014: $51,025
• 2000: $57,597
• Percent change: -11%

23. Coles County

• 2014: $41,319
• 2000: $46,644
• Percent change: -11%

22. Cook County

• 2014: $55,058
• 2000: $62,195
• Percent change: -11%

21. Whiteside County

• 2014: $49,895
• 2000: $56,585
• Percent change: -12%

20. Rock Island County

• 2014: $48,024
• 2000: $54,476
• Percent change: -12%

19. Warren County

• 2014: $44,180
• 2000: $50,133
• Percent change: -12%

18. Champaign County

• 2014: $47,966
• 2000: $54,446
• Percent change: -12%

17. Greene County

• 2014: $39,738
• 2000: $45,143
• Percent change: -12%

16. Pike County

• 2014: $39,005
• 2000: $44,322
• Percent change: -12%

15. Iroquois County

• 2014: $46,895
• 2000: $53,311
• Percent change: -12%

14. Kane County

• 2014: $72,131
• 2000: $82,018
• Percent change: -12%

13. Vermilion County

• 2014: $42,036
• 2000: $47,858
• Percent change: -12%

12. LaSalle County

• 2014: $51,205
• 2000: $58,456
• Percent change: -12%

11. DeKalb County

• 2014: $56,536
• 2000: $65,068
• Percent change: -13%

10. Will County

• 2014: $75,176
• 2000: $86,533
• Percent change: -13%

9. Macon County

• 2014: $47,575
• 2000: $55,509
• Percent change: -14%

8. Lake County

• 2014: $78,001
• 2000: $91,688
• Percent change: -15%

7. Stephenson County

• 2014: $48,569
• 2000: $57,188
• Percent change: -15%

6. Alexander County

• 2014: $30,699
• 2000: $36,156
• Percent change: -15%

5. DuPage County

• 2014: $80,037
• 2000: $94,431
• Percent change: -15%

4. McHenry County

• 2014: $76,856
• 2000: $92,469
• Percent change: -17%

3. Boone County

• 2014: $58,792
• 2000: $73,856
• Percent change: -20%

2. Knox County

• 2014: $38,992
• 2000: $49,370
• Percent change: -21%

1. Winnebago County

• 2014: $47,708
• 2000: $61,353
• Percent change: -22%

You can find more detailed information about each county's loss in median household income here.

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