Menard County, Illinois Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Menard County is located in Illinois with a total population of 12,169. It is the 83rd most populous county out of 102 in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Menard County is 42.8 years. This is 10% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Menard County is $81,334. This is about average than the state median of $81,702. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 4% higher. The poverty rate stands at 9.8%. This is 17% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. The unemployment rate is 3.9%. This is 34% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $179,300. Housing costs are 28% lower than the state median of $250,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Menard County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 79.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 19% higher than the state average of 66.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Menard County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 95.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.5%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (95.0% vs 58.8%). The Black or African American population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 13.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 18.5%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 5.8%.

Education

26.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 29% 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 94.2%.