Brown County, Illinois Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Brown County is located in Illinois with a total population of 6,320. It is the 91st most populous county out of 102 in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Brown County is 40.9 years. This is 5% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Brown County is $72,288. This is 12% lower than the state median of $81,702. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 8% lower. The poverty rate stands at 8.9%. This is 24% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. The unemployment rate is 2.2%. This is 62% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $142,200. Housing costs are 43% lower than the state median of $250,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x, Brown County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 73.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% higher than the state average of 66.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Brown County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 75.0% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 17.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (5.1%) is well below the state average of 18.5%. The Asian population (0.0%) is well below the state average of 5.8%.

Education

15.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 59% lower than the state rate of 37.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 79.6%.