Hancock County, Illinois Demographics 2026

Name: Hancock County, Illinois Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Hancock County, Illinois has a population of 17,281, the 60th most populous county in Illinois. The median household income is $65,865 and the median home value is $113,800. The poverty rate is 12.3%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Hancock County Quick Facts

Population 17,281

Median Household Income $65,865

Median Home Value $113,800

Poverty Rate 12.3%

Unemployment Rate 4.2%

Median Age 46.9 years

Homeownership Rate 81.3%

Affordability Ratio 1.7x

Bachelor's Degree+ 25.1%

High School Graduation 93.6%

Cities/Places 15

Population 17,281 60th of 102

Median Income $65,865 21% lower than state

Poverty Rate 12.3%

Unemployment 4.2%

How Hancock County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	17,434	17,281	-0.9%
Median household income	$65,044	$65,865	+1.3%
Median home value	$108,400	$113,800	+5.0%

Median Household Income

Hancock

$65,865

$83,390

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Hancock

$113,800

$263,300

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 17.6%

$25K-$50K 20.9%

$50K-$100K 32.8%

$100K+ 28.6%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

5.5%

$10K-$15K

3.6%

$15K-$20K

5.1%

$20K-$25K

3.5%

$25K-$30K

4.2%

$30K-$35K

4.8%

$35K-$40K

3.2%

$40K-$45K

4.5%

$45K-$50K

4.3%

$50K-$60K

7.1%

$60K-$75K

10.8%

$75K-$100K

14.9%

$100K-$125K

10.1%

$125K-$150K

6.5%

$150K-$200K

7.2%

$200K+

4.7%

Employment

4.2% Unemployment Rate State: 5.8%|National: 5.2%

58.8% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 81.3%

Renter 18.7%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

1.7x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $782/mo 14.2% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

21.0%

18-34

16.6%

35-54

22.3%

55-74

29.4%

75+

10.7%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 61 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Hancock County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Hamilton	2,714	$56,895	14.2%	$114,100
Carthage	2,291	$77,004	6.7%	$112,900
Warsaw	1,518	$58,750	11.8%	$96,100
La Harpe	1,273	$49,205	12.9%	$86,400
Nauvoo	931	$68,750	28.7%	$156,700
Dallas City	894	$63,056	16.4%	$90,000
Augusta	669	$42,861	24.5%	$83,400
Bowen	552	$63,750	10.9%	$80,700
West Point	201	$64,375	11.4%	$39,300
Elvaston	163	$38,750	18.4%	$126,800
Pontoosuc	108	$62,500	0.9%	$66,700
Ferris	105	$43,125	31.4%	$77,900
Basco	59	$40,000	17.0%	$42,500
Niota	39	N/A	25.6%	N/A
Bentley	22	$71,250	0.0%	$24,000

Explore Illinois Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Hancock County is located in Illinois with a total population of 17,281. It is the 60th most populous county out of 102 in Illinois. The county encompasses 15 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Hancock County is 46.9 years. This is 20% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. 10.7% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Hancock County is $65,865. This is 21% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 18% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.3%. This is 4% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 4.2%. This is 28% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $113,800. Housing costs are 57% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.7x, Hancock County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 81.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 21% higher than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

Hancock County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (94.0% vs 58.1%). The Black or African American population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 13.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.3%) is well below the state average of 18.8%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.

Education

25.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 34% lower than the state rate of 37.9%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Hancock County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Illinois and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Hancock County, Illinois?

Hancock County has a population of 17,281, making it the 60th most populous county in Illinois.

What is the median income in Hancock County?

The median household income in Hancock County is $65,865 with a poverty rate of 12.3%.

How many cities are in Hancock County, Illinois?

Hancock County contains 15 Census-designated places.