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COUNTY

Edwards County

Illinois · 5,898 residents (2025 est.) · 222.4 sq mi
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The short version

Edwards County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $60,519. Population has declined 13% since 2000. 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $100,000. With a median age of 44.7, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 27% less than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 44.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
6,075
−13%since 2000
from 6,971 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
27 / sq mi
−7%since 2009
from 29 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
44.7
+10%since 2000
from 40.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:5,898 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
6K6K7K7K8K1990201020202024Edwards County
20246K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.5%(333)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.6%(459)
US avg: 6%
10 to 144.7%(284)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.5%(396)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.8%(294)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349.8%(597)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.5%(699)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.8%(776)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.3%(867)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7413%(787)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.1%(369)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over3.5%(214)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$60,519
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,816 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$34,238
+112%since 2000
from $16,187 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
37.4%
+18.5 ptssince 2009
from 18.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
16.5%
+6.7 ptssince 2000
from 9.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.435
+5%since 2010
from 0.414 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade25.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing10.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction8.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Information7.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance5.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade4.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services3.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing1.5%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$100,000
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $45,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$811
+40%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $319 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
79.3%
−1.9 ptssince 2000
from 81.2% in 2000
20.7% rent
Vacancy rate
12.4%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
13.3%
−4.0 ptssince 2009
from 17.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
37.7%
+17.0 ptssince 2009
from 20.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.7
+9%since 2009
from 1.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
28
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Edwards County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.5%(6,869)
Black0.1%(10)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(32)
Asian0.4%(25)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic94.7%(5,755)
Black0.1%(6)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(89)
Asian0.2%(15)
Other3.5%(210)
Diversity Score
13
+168%since 2009
from 5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
6
−56%since 2020
from 14 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Puerto Rican0.4%(22)
Cuban0.2%(14)
Guatemalan0.2%(14)
Mexican0.2%(13)
Asian origin
Vietnamese0.1%(9)
Korean0.1%(6)
Ancestry
English23.1%(1,402)
German15.9%(966)
American10.9%(664)
Irish8.2%(496)
Scottish2%(122)
French1.2%(73)
Polish1.2%(72)
Dutch0.8%(49)
Welsh0.6%(36)
Italian0.3%(20)
Norwegian0.3%(20)
+ 13 more ancestry groups with data
Armenian0.3%(16)
British0.2%(13)
Bulgarian0.2%(12)
West Indian0.2%(12)
Haitian0.2%(12)
Danish0.2%(10)
Belgian0.1%(8)
Russian0.1%(7)
Swedish0.1%(7)
Swiss0.1%(5)
Lithuanian0.1%(4)
Greek0%(2)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest American population · Largest Irish population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
13.9%
+4.1 ptssince 2000
from 9.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.9%
+9.6 ptssince 2000
from 82.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.9%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 2.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.4 min
+44%since 2000
from 16.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.2%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 76.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.7%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 12.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.8%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.4%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.9%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.6%
−3.0 ptssince 2011
from 8.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
60.1%
−2.8 ptssince 2011
from 62.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
7.8%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
30.0%
−30.2 ptssince 2009
from 60.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.3%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Female
50.7%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Foreign born
0.8%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.0%
−41.6 ptssince 2009
from 48.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
20.2%
+4.9 ptssince 2012
from 15.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.0%
−84.2 ptssince 2013
from 90.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
85.1%
+12.7 ptssince 2017
from 72.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.9%
−0.5 ptssince 2016
from 98.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.0%
+0.7 ptssince 2016
from 0.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married26.6%(659)
Married58.8%(1,458)
Widowed4%(99)
Divorced10.6%(264)
Women 15+
Never married18.3%(462)
Married57.6%(1,450)
Widowed11.9%(299)
Divorced12.2%(308)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Places similar to Edwards County
Head to head

Compare Edwards County to nearby counties

EDWARDS COUNTY VS
Wabash County
Income$57,086−6%
Home value$104,900+5%
Population10,907+85%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
EDWARDS COUNTY VS
Richland County
Income$62,455+3%
Home value$112,000+12%
Population15,219+158%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
EDWARDS COUNTY VS
Wayne County
Income$55,521−8%
Home value$110,700+11%
Population15,882+169%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
EDWARDS COUNTY VS
White County
Income$54,813−9%
Home value$108,100+8%
Population13,250+125%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Edwards County, Illinois?

Edwards County, Illinois has about 6,075 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Edwards County, Illinois?

The typical household in Edwards County, Illinois earns about $60,519 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Edwards County, Illinois expensive?

In Edwards County, Illinois, the median home is worth about $100,000, and the typical rent is about $811 a month.

How educated are people in Edwards County, Illinois?

About 13.9% of adults age 25 and over in Edwards County, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Edwards County, Illinois?

About 16.5% of people in Edwards County, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Edwards County, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Edwards County, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,365 residents, a change of about -18 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

3 census tracts
Census Tract 9571Census Tract 9570Census Tract 9569
4 ZIP codes
ZIP 62806ZIP 62476ZIP 62818ZIP 62815
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →