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COUNTY

Hardin County

Illinois · 3,588 residents (2025 est.) · 177.389 sq mi
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The short version

Hardin County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $54,271. Population has fallen 25% since 2000, a loss of 1,195 residents. 13% 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 $103,800. With a median age of 53.6, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 35% less than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 53.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
13% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 35%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
3,605
−25%since 2000
from 4,800 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
20 / sq mi
−19%since 2009
from 25 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
53.6
+27%since 2000
from 42.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:3,588 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
3K4K4K5K5K1990201020202024Hardin County
20244K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 52.8%(102)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 92.7%(98)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.2%(222)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 194.3%(155)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 243.6%(129)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3410.6%(382)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.6%(418)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.5%(413)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6416.9%(610)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7417.3%(623)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 848.4%(304)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over4.1%(149)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$54,271
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,693 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,650
+85%since 2000
from $15,984 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
29.8%
+14.8 ptssince 2009
from 15.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
11.0%
−7.6 ptssince 2000
from 18.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.406
−10%since 2010
from 0.452 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information13.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing9.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Retail trade6.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Manufacturing6.7%
US avg: 0.4%
Wholesale trade6.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Construction2.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration2.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$103,800
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $42,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$379
−15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $246 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
79.5%
−0.8 ptssince 2000
from 80.4% in 2000
20.5% rent
Vacancy rate
33.9%
+8.3 ptssince 2009
from 25.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.5%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 16.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
7.3%
−23.4 ptssince 2009
from 30.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.9
−1%since 2009
from 1.9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
51
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Hardin County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic94.9%(4,554)
Black2.8%(132)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(51)
Asian0.5%(24)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic95.7%(3,451)
Black1.4%(49)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(33)
Asian0%(0)
Other2%(72)
Diversity Score
10
+86%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
10
−41%since 2020
from 17 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
Mexican0.8%(28)
Ancestry
German23.7%(853)
English19.4%(699)
Irish12.5%(449)
American6.3%(226)
Scotch-Irish3.2%(116)
Scottish2.3%(83)
Dutch2%(72)
Polish1.1%(38)
Russian0.7%(24)
French0.6%(22)
Belgian0.5%(19)
Swedish0.5%(19)
+ 7 more ancestry groups with data
Italian0.4%(16)
Portuguese0.3%(10)
Czech0.2%(9)
Norwegian0.2%(6)
Slovene0.1%(5)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest Scotch-Irish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
13.3%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 9.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.9%
+23.8 ptssince 2000
from 68.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.2%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 3.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
28.2 min
+55%since 2000
from 18.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
81.5%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 81.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.2%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.3%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
2.2%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.6%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
9.0%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 8.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.8%
−5.9 ptssince 2011
from 8.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
41.1%
−5.9 ptssince 2011
from 46.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
16.2%
+4.7 ptssince 2009
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
37.4%
−12.7 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
52.4%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
Female
47.6%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
Foreign born
0.3%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.6%
−42.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
27.4%
−2.3 ptssince 2012
from 29.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.7%
−86.1 ptssince 2013
from 89.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
78.6%
+15.5 ptssince 2017
from 63.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
99.7%
+1.4 ptssince 2016
from 98.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.3%
−0.7 ptssince 2016
from 0.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married22%(362)
Married53.6%(880)
Widowed3.6%(59)
Divorced20.8%(341)
Women 15+
Never married23.4%(360)
Married47%(725)
Widowed15.4%(238)
Divorced14.1%(218)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Hardin County

Lewis County
Pop 3,704
Chautauqua County
Pop 3,321
Glascock County
Pop 3,141
Smith County
Pop 3,566
Places similar to Hardin County
Head to head

Compare Hardin County to nearby counties

HARDIN COUNTY VS
Crittenden County
Income$46,656−14%
Home value$127,300+23%
Population8,807+145%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HARDIN COUNTY VS
Pope County
Income$60,050+11%
Home value$143,800+39%
Population3,672+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HARDIN COUNTY VS
Gallatin County
Income$59,219+9%
Home value$82,900−20%
Population4,616+29%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HARDIN COUNTY VS
Union County
Income$60,327+11%
Home value$104,500+1%
Population12,839+258%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Hardin County, Illinois?

Hardin County, Illinois has about 3,605 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Hardin County, Illinois earns about $54,271 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Hardin County, Illinois expensive?

In Hardin County, Illinois, the median home is worth about $103,800, and the typical rent is about $379 a month.

How educated are people in Hardin County, Illinois?

About 13.3% of adults age 25 and over in Hardin County, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Hardin County, Illinois?

About 11.0% of people in Hardin County, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Hardin County, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Hardin County, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,584 residents, a change of about -31 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

2 census tracts
Census Tract 9710Census Tract 9709
3 ZIP codes
ZIP 62931ZIP 62982ZIP 62919
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →