Population 21,315 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Fayette County
Household size in Fayette County
| Period | Fayette County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.66 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.56 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.54 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.63 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.03 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
At 2.63 people per household, Fayette County sits close to the national average of 2.65. Fayette County has larger households than the great majority of Illinois counties.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Fayette County
| Period | Fayette County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.4 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.4 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.7 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.1 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.7 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
At 41.1, the median age in Fayette County is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 39.4, in line with the national trend.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Fayette County
| Period | Fayette County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.4% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.9% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.2% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.0% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Fayette County as they are nationally: 11.0%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share has barely moved since 2006–10, while the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Fayette County
Renters in Fayette County
| Period | Fayette County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.5% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 19.6% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.5% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 19.4% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Fayette County is largely a place of homeowners: only 19.4% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 51.9% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is down 1.1 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Fayette County
| Period | Fayette County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.5% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.4% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.4% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.3% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
A few more homes sit empty in Fayette County than nationally: 11.3%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Fayette County
| Period | Fayette County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1961 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1968 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1965 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1971 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Fayette County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1971, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1961 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the north, while the center has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Fayette County
| Period | Fayette County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $549 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $581 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $606 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $860 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$310 | +$475 | +$606 |
Rent in Fayette County runs $860 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $310 a month from 2006–10, a 56% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 31.3% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the northwest and lowest in the south.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Fayette County
Bachelor's degrees in Fayette County
| Period | Fayette County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.8% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.3% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 11.0% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.0% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Fayette County: 16.0% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has edged up 1.1 points, a smaller shift than nationally. Fayette County has a lower share of college graduates than at least four in five Illinois counties.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Fayette County
| Period | Fayette County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 83.5% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 83.3% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 83.4% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 86.4% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.9 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly one in seven adults in Fayette County never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 86.4% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma is up 2.9 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of Illinois' 102 counties, only four have a lower share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Fayette County
| Period | Fayette County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.8% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.9% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.2% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.9% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Fayette County runs below the national rate: 3.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is down 2.9 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Fayette County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayette County | 2.63 | 41.1 | 11.0% | 19.4% | 11.3% | 1971 | $860 | 16.0% | 86.4% | 3.9% |
| Bond County | 2.32 | 41.4 | 8.4% | 23.4% | 10.8% | 1970 | $761 | 22.9% | 90.6% | 3.8% |
| Effingham County | 2.46 | 40.7 | 7.9% | 21.8% | 9.9% | 1979 | $730 | 27.6% | 93.3% | 2.0% |
| Jasper County | 2.44 | 45.1 | 8.8% | 14.8% | 11.6% | 1976 | $758 | 21.0% | 92.1% | 5.1% |
| Madison County | 2.41 | 40.9 | 11.1% | 25.8% | 8.0% | 1974 | $1,069 | 32.6% | 94.1% | 4.5% |
| Crawford County | 2.34 | 42.2 | 10.4% | 18.1% | 11.3% | 1966 | $802 | 21.3% | 90.7% | 3.0% |
| Jersey County | 2.54 | 43.5 | 9.8% | 19.5% | 19.6% | 1973 | $921 | 22.6% | 93.8% | 3.0% |
| Lincoln County | 2.80 | 38.6 | 12.4% | 21.0% | 4.5% | 1996 | $1,032 | 18.8% | 90.5% | 3.8% |
| Greene County | 2.37 | 42.5 | 11.5% | 23.0% | 9.5% | 1975 | $845 | 16.0% | 88.9% | 5.7% |
| Montgomery County | 2.43 | 44.4 | 12.5% | 26.6% | 18.7% | 1978 | $842 | 17.6% | 88.5% | 3.2% |
| Lawrence County | 2.38 | 42.6 | 9.2% | 19.3% | 8.2% | 1973 | $908 | 20.4% | 89.8% | 3.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Taylor County, KY · Chowan County, NC · Ciales Municipio, PR · Claiborne Parish, LA · Clark County, AR · Clark County, IL · Clarke County, AL · Cleburne County, AR · Stone County, MO · Stutsman County, ND
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Fayette County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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