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Stark County, Illinois Demographics 2026

Stark County, Illinois has a population of 5,308, the 95th most populous county in Illinois. The median household income is $62,878 and the median home value is $104,500. The poverty rate is 11.1%.

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

Stark County Quick Facts

Population 5,308
Median Household Income $62,878
Median Home Value $104,500
Poverty Rate 11.1%
Unemployment Rate 2.3%
Median Age 44.4 years
Homeownership Rate 80.1%
Affordability Ratio 1.7x
Bachelor's Degree+ 21.4%
High School Graduation 92.8%
Cities/Places 4
Population 5,308 95th of 102
Median Income $62,878 25% lower than state
Poverty Rate 11.1%
Unemployment 2.3%

How Stark County Changed

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

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population5,3245,308-0.3%
Median household income$62,284$62,878+1.0%
Median home value$103,500$104,500+1.0%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 13.8%
$25K-$50K 25.1%
$50K-$100K 29.5%
$100K+ 31.6%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
3.2%
$10K-$15K
4.3%
$15K-$20K
3.6%
$20K-$25K
2.8%
$25K-$30K
5.8%
$30K-$35K
5.2%
$35K-$40K
5.3%
$40K-$45K
5.0%
$45K-$50K
3.8%
$50K-$60K
8.5%
$60K-$75K
8.8%
$75K-$100K
12.3%
$100K-$125K
11.1%
$125K-$150K
6.5%
$150K-$200K
6.3%
$200K+
7.7%

Employment

2.3% Unemployment Rate State: 5.8%|National: 5.2%
59.3% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 80.1%
Renter 19.9%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
1.7x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $735/mo 14.0% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

17out of 100
Very Low Diversity

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

State average: 61 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Stark County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Wyoming1,578$60,23811.8%$109,500
Toulon1,485$59,16711.3%$95,500
Bradford772$52,29222.1%$80,700
La Fayette178$51,3464.5%$50,900

Population Overview

Stark County is located in Illinois with a total population of 5,308. It is the 95th most populous county out of 102 in Illinois. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Stark County is 44.4 years. This is 14% higher than the state median of 39.0 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Stark County is $62,878. This is 25% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 22% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.1%. This is 6% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 2.3%. This is 60% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $104,500. Housing costs are 60% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.7x, Stark County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 80.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 19% higher than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

Stark County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.7% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.9%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (90.7% vs 58.1%). The Black or African American population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 13.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.9%) is well below the state average of 18.8%. The Asian population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.

Education

21.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 43% 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 92.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Stark 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 Stark County, Illinois?

Stark County has a population of 5,308, making it the 95th most populous county in Illinois.

What is the median income in Stark County?

The median household income in Stark County is $62,878 with a poverty rate of 11.1%.

How many cities are in Stark County, Illinois?

Stark County contains 4 Census-designated places.