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COUNTY

Fayette County

Illinois · 20,790 residents (2025 est.) · 716.443 sq mi
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The short version

Fayette County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $60,944. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 17% 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 $130,700. 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 41.9
US median: 38.9
Less educated
17% 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
21,315
−2%since 2000
from 21,802 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
30 / sq mi
+1%since 2009
from 29 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
41.9
+12%since 2000
from 37.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:20,790 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
21K21K22K22K22K1990201020202024Fayette County
202421K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.7%(1,207)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.4%(1,151)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146%(1,272)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196%(1,285)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.1%(1,309)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.8%(2,729)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.3%(2,620)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.8%(2,718)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.4%(2,860)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7410.9%(2,324)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.5%(1,176)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over3.1%(664)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$60,944
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,873 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$32,197
+110%since 2000
from $15,357 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
39.5%
+20.0 ptssince 2009
from 19.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
15.5%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 12.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.449
+3%since 2010
from 0.435 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information14.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade10.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade8.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance6.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing6%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction4.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services4.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing1.2%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$130,700
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $59,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$798
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $384 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
80.6%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 79.8% in 2000
19.4% rent
Vacancy rate
11.3%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.1%
−4.6 ptssince 2009
from 21.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
40.2%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 40.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.1
+19%since 2009
from 1.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
38
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Fayette County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic93.5%(20,386)
Black4.9%(1,064)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(174)
Asian0.2%(37)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic88.3%(18,815)
Black3.2%(692)
Hispanic / Latino3%(650)
Asian0.2%(33)
Other5.3%(1,125)
Diversity Score
27
+357%since 2009
from 6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
25
−55%since 2020
from 56 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
Mexican2.1%(445)
Chilean0.1%(23)
Puerto Rican0.1%(22)
Cuban0.1%(13)
Asian origin
Chinese0.1%(14)
Filipino0.1%(14)
Thai0%(5)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0.1%(11)
Ancestry
German26.1%(5,553)
English12.6%(2,683)
American11.3%(2,414)
Irish9.9%(2,104)
French2.5%(540)
Italian2.2%(466)
Scottish1.7%(356)
Polish1.5%(323)
Welsh0.9%(185)
Swedish0.8%(179)
Swiss0.7%(141)
Dutch0.6%(138)
+ 23 more ancestry groups with data
British0.6%(122)
Scotch-Irish0.5%(115)
Czech0.2%(47)
Norwegian0.2%(38)
Finnish0.1%(29)
Ukrainian0.1%(28)
Russian0.1%(27)
Croatian0.1%(23)
Danish0.1%(20)
Hungarian0.1%(18)
Latvian0.1%(15)
Belgian0.1%(12)
Greek0%(9)
Arab0%(8)
Slovene0%(4)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Irish population · Largest French population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
17.2%
+8.1 ptssince 2000
from 9.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
87.3%
+15.1 ptssince 2000
from 72.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.1%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 2.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.5 min
+59%since 2000
from 16.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.3%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 79.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.4%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.3%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.1%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.6%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.5%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.8%
−4.7 ptssince 2011
from 8.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
54.8%
−6.2 ptssince 2011
from 61.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
9.1%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
28.8%
−28.5 ptssince 2009
from 57.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
52.1%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.0% in 2009
Female
47.9%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.0% in 2009
Foreign born
0.9%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.7%
−44.4 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
18.1%
+4.2 ptssince 2012
from 13.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.3%
−78.8 ptssince 2013
from 86.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
83.9%
+19.4 ptssince 2017
from 64.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
95.5%
−0.3 ptssince 2016
from 95.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.3%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 1.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married34.8%(3,213)
Married50.5%(4,665)
Widowed4.1%(375)
Divorced10.7%(985)
Women 15+
Never married26.8%(2,268)
Married50.8%(4,294)
Widowed10%(847)
Divorced12.3%(1,038)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Head to head

Compare Fayette County to nearby counties

FAYETTE COUNTY VS
Effingham County
Income$80,404+32%
Home value$189,500+45%
Population34,519+66%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FAYETTE COUNTY VS
Bond County
Income$65,959+8%
Home value$145,700+11%
Population16,959−18%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FAYETTE COUNTY VS
Marion County
Income$61,240same
Home value$103,000−21%
Population36,382+75%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FAYETTE COUNTY VS
Shelby County
Income$72,095+18%
Home value$137,100+5%
Population20,576−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Fayette County, Illinois?

Fayette County, Illinois has about 21,315 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Fayette County, Illinois earns about $60,944 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Fayette County, Illinois expensive?

In Fayette County, Illinois, the median home is worth about $130,700, and the typical rent is about $798 a month.

How educated are people in Fayette County, Illinois?

About 17.2% of adults age 25 and over in Fayette County, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Fayette County, Illinois?

About 15.5% of people in Fayette County, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Fayette County, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Fayette County, Illinois has grown since 1990. The population has added about 422 residents, a change of about 2 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

7 census tracts
Census Tract 9507Census Tract 9508Census Tract 9511Census Tract 9505Census Tract 9506Census Tract 9509Census Tract 9510
9 ZIP codes
ZIP 62471ZIP 62080ZIP 62458ZIP 62418ZIP 62414ZIP 62838ZIP 62880ZIP 62885ZIP 62011
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →