United States › Illinois › Fayette County COUNTY · 2020 ACS
Fayette County Illinois · 21,488 residents · 716 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
With 21,488 people, Fayette County is a county in Illinois. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 12% of adults. Owners hold 78% of the housing stock. The typical home is worth $93,200, having risen by half since 2000. Households here earn about 33% less than in Illinois as a whole. 2% of locals were born outside the United States.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 41.4
US median: 38.8
Less educated
12% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 37.5 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
21K 21K 22K 22K 22K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Fayette County Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $45,634
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,873 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $15,357 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 19.5% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 12.2% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 7%
Professional, scientific, technical 4.4%
Public administration 3.7%
Transportation & warehousing 2.6%
Education & health services 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.8%
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$93,200
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $59,300 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$610
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $384 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 79.8% in 2000
21.6% rent
from 2.53 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 1.8 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 93.5%(20,386)
Hispanic / Latino 0.8%(174)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 90.4%(19,425)
Hispanic / Latino 3.1%(657)
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 19 more ancestry groups with data from 9.0% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 72.2% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 2.8% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 16.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 79.6% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 8.5% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 61.0% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 24.9% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 13.9% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 34.8%(3,213)
Women 15+
Never married 26.8%(2,268)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 13.9% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 18.1%(240)
Gulf War (1990s) 13.2%(174)
Share of the 1,323 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Fayette County Head to head
Compare Fayette County to nearby counties FAYETTE COUNTY VS
Effingham County
Income $80,404 +76%
Home value $189,500 +103%
Population 34,519 +66%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FAYETTE COUNTY VS
Bond County
Income $65,959 +45%
Home value $145,700 +56%
Population 16,959 −18%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FAYETTE COUNTY VS
Marion County
Income $61,240 +34%
Home value $103,000 +11%
Population 36,382 +75%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FAYETTE COUNTY VS
Shelby County
Income $72,095 +58%
Home value $137,100 +47%
Population 20,576 −1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Fayette County, Illinois? Fayette County, Illinois has about 21,488 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Fayette County, Illinois? The typical household in Fayette County, Illinois earns about $45,634 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 $93,200, and the typical rent is about $610 a month.
How educated are people in Fayette County, Illinois? About 12.4% 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 16.2% 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 595 residents, a change of about 3 percent over that period.
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