Population 36,550 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Jefferson County
Household size in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.42 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.44 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.40 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.42 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.00 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
Households in Jefferson County run small, averaging 2.42 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the southeast.
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 Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.4 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.5 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.8 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.4 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.0 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
Jefferson County skews a little older than the country: its median age is 42.4, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 40.4, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the center and oldest in the north.
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 Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.1% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.4% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.8% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.5% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Jefferson County as they are nationally: 12.5%, against 11.6%. Single parents are more common here than in Illinois overall (11.3%). Jefferson County has a higher share of single-parent households than the great majority of Illinois counties.
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 Jefferson County
Renters in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.0% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 27.4% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.8% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 28.3% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.3 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Jefferson County own their homes; 28.3% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. Just over half of owners (52.7%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the west and least common in the northeast. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 3.3 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.0% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.7% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.5% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.6% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
A few more homes sit empty in Jefferson County than nationally: 11.6%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy has edged up 0.6 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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 Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1972 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1974 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1975 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1978 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Jefferson County are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1978, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are newer than in Illinois as a whole, where the median home dates to 1970. The median year built has moved up from 1972 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the center.
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 Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $559 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $569 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $733 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $887 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$327 | +$475 | +$606 |
The median renter in Jefferson County pays $887 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $327 a month since 2006–10, up 59%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 26.7% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Jefferson County
Bachelor's degrees in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.5% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.1% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.1% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.4% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.8 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Jefferson County: 18.4% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 3.8 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the north and least in the south.
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 Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 84.1% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.5% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.1% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.6% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +8.5 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Jefferson County have finished high school (92.6%), above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 8.5 points, mirroring the country.
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 Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.5% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.3% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.1% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.8% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Jefferson County is close to the national rate: 5.8% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 2.7 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. 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).
Jefferson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | 2.42 | 42.4 | 12.5% | 28.3% | 11.6% | 1978 | $887 | 18.4% | 92.6% | 5.8% |
| Washington County | 2.32 | 45.4 | 10.0% | 15.9% | 9.4% | 1972 | $840 | 23.4% | 93.1% | 4.3% |
| Wayne County | 2.37 | 42.5 | 8.6% | 21.6% | 10.3% | 1976 | $704 | 16.1% | 89.1% | 3.5% |
| Edwards County | 2.30 | 45.3 | 9.6% | 20.7% | 11.6% | 1969 | $704 | 14.2% | 92.0% | 4.8% |
| Wabash County | 2.32 | 42.3 | 13.2% | 23.7% | 13.5% | 1965 | $793 | 17.6% | 92.6% | 3.8% |
| Monroe County | 2.53 | 43.6 | 6.8% | 15.3% | 6.8% | 1987 | $1,048 | 38.4% | 96.0% | 1.9% |
| Gibson County | 2.44 | 40.5 | 9.4% | 23.3% | 10.2% | 1974 | $934 | 19.3% | 91.3% | 2.2% |
| Jefferson County | 2.62 | 41.0 | 11.1% | 17.8% | 6.9% | 1987 | $1,089 | 25.1% | 92.2% | 3.2% |
| Pike County | 2.46 | 42.4 | 9.2% | 13.3% | 11.5% | 1971 | $835 | 15.8% | 90.2% | 4.3% |
| Dubois County | 2.48 | 40.7 | 11.2% | 25.3% | 7.8% | 1978 | $887 | 25.9% | 89.2% | 2.3% |
| Franklin County | 2.46 | 41.8 | 10.7% | 23.5% | 8.0% | 1983 | $947 | 23.7% | 90.5% | 4.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Suwannee County, FL · Del Norte County, CA · Delaware County, OK · Delta County, CO · Delta County, MI · Des Moines County, IA · Douglas County, WI · Dubois County, IN · Dunn County, WI · Stephenson County, IL
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 Jefferson 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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