Fulton County, Illinois Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Fulton County is located in Illinois with a total population of 33,259. It is the 44th most populous county out of 102 in Illinois. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.

Age Demographics

The median age in Fulton County is 43.7 years. This is 12% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Fulton County is $58,617. This is 28% lower than the state median of $81,702. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 25% lower. The poverty rate stands at 12.6%. This is 8% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. The unemployment rate is 6.6%. This is 14% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $102,500. Housing costs are 59% lower than the state median of $250,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.7x, Fulton County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 17% higher than the state average of 66.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Fulton County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.1% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 2.5%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (92.1% vs 58.8%). The Black or African American population (2.5%) is well below the state average of 13.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.4%) is well below the state average of 18.5%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 5.8%.

Education

17.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 53% 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 90.9%.