Jersey County, Illinois Demographics 2026

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

Jersey County, Illinois has a population of 21,274, the 55th most populous county in Illinois. The median household income is $80,361 and the median home value is $171,900. The poverty rate is 8.8%.

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

Jersey County Quick Facts

Population 21,274

Median Household Income $80,361

Median Home Value $171,900

Poverty Rate 8.8%

Unemployment Rate 3.4%

Median Age 43.7 years

Homeownership Rate 80.5%

Affordability Ratio 2.1x

Bachelor's Degree+ 22.6%

High School Graduation 94.1%

Cities/Places 6

Population 21,274 55th of 102

Median Income $80,361 4% lower than state

Poverty Rate 8.8%

Unemployment 3.4%

How Jersey 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	21,336	21,274	-0.3%
Median household income	$79,104	$80,361	+1.6%
Median home value	$168,800	$171,900	+1.8%

Median Household Income

Jersey

$80,361

$83,390

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Jersey

$171,900

$263,300

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 14.3%

$25K-$50K 14.9%

$50K-$100K 33.8%

$100K+ 37.0%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

5.9%

$10K-$15K

2.4%

$15K-$20K

1.9%

$20K-$25K

4.1%

$25K-$30K

4.1%

$30K-$35K

2.4%

$35K-$40K

3.0%

$40K-$45K

2.5%

$45K-$50K

2.9%

$50K-$60K

6.7%

$60K-$75K

12.2%

$75K-$100K

14.9%

$100K-$125K

8.4%

$125K-$150K

9.4%

$150K-$200K

9.6%

$200K+

9.5%

Employment

3.4% Unemployment Rate State: 5.8%|National: 5.2%

60.6% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 80.5%

Renter 19.5%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.1x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $846/mo 12.6% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

19.8%

18-34

20.3%

35-54

24.1%

55-74

27.3%

75+

8.5%

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 Jersey County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Jerseyville	7,445	$73,529	12.3%	$143,900
Grafton	734	$105,417	4.8%	$275,800
Elsah	708	$98,125	25.0%	$221,400
Fieldon	200	$61,667	26.0%	$91,300
Otterville	126	$65,991	12.8%	$66,000
Fidelity	71	$44,063	11.3%	$90,800

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

Jersey County is located in Illinois with a total population of 21,274. It is the 55th most populous county out of 102 in Illinois. The county encompasses 6 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Jersey County is 43.7 years. This is 12% higher than the state median of 39.0 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Jersey County is $80,361. This is 4% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also about the same as the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.8%. This is 25% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 3.4%. This is 42% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $171,900. Housing costs are 35% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Jersey County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 80.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 20% higher than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

Jersey County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.6% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.6%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (94.6% vs 58.1%). The Black or African American population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 13.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.6%) is well below the state average of 18.8%. The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.

Education

22.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 40% 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 94.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Jersey 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 Jersey County, Illinois?

Jersey County has a population of 21,274, making it the 55th most populous county in Illinois.

What is the median income in Jersey County?

The median household income in Jersey County is $80,361 with a poverty rate of 8.8%.

How many cities are in Jersey County, Illinois?

Jersey County contains 6 Census-designated places.