Ford County, Illinois Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Ford County is located in Illinois with a total population of 13,396. It is the 78th most populous county out of 102 in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Ford County is 42.5 years. This is 9% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Ford County is $60,782. This is 26% lower than the state median of $81,702. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 23% lower. The poverty rate stands at 12.7%. This is 8% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. The unemployment rate is 5.4%. This is 7% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $118,100. Housing costs are 53% lower than the state median of $250,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Ford County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 74.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% higher than the state average of 66.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Ford County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.6%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (90.5% vs 58.8%). The Black or African American population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 13.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (4.6%) is well below the state average of 18.5%. The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 5.8%.

Education

19.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 48% 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 91.9%.