Population 15,031 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Lawrence County
Household size in Lawrence County
| Period | Lawrence County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.27 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.28 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.19 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.61 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.34 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
At 2.61 people per household, Lawrence County sits close to the national average of 2.65. Household size has climbed from 2.27 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Lawrence 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 Lawrence County
| Period | Lawrence County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.3 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.1 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.1 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.5 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.2 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
At 41.5, the median age in Lawrence County is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. Residents skew youngest in the east and oldest in the southwest.
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 Lawrence County
| Period | Lawrence County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.4% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.1% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.8% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.9% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in ten households in Lawrence County (10.9%), close to the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 1.5 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Lawrence County
Renters in Lawrence County
| Period | Lawrence County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.7% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.0% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.8% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 28.2% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Nearly three in ten households in Lawrence County rent their homes (28.2%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. About six in ten owners (60.6%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the east and least common in the southwest.
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 Lawrence County
| Period | Lawrence County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.1% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.2% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 13.3% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.0% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 15.0% of the housing in Lawrence County, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy has risen 3.9 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 Lawrence County
| Period | Lawrence County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1959 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1957 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1958 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1964 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Lawrence County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1964, 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 1959 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 Lawrence County
| Period | Lawrence County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $498 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $532 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $616 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $814 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$316 | +$475 | +$606 |
The median renter in Lawrence County pays $814 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $316 a month from 2006–10, a 64% jump, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 23.5% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the northeast 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 Lawrence County
Bachelor's degrees in Lawrence County
| Period | Lawrence County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.0% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.9% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.1% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.7% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.7 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Lawrence County: 14.7% 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 2.7 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only eight of Illinois' 102 counties have a lower share of college graduates.
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 Lawrence County
| Period | Lawrence County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.1% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 82.9% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 85.1% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 87.3% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in eight adults in Lawrence County never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 87.3% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma is up 1.2 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Lawrence County has a lower share of high school graduates than at least four in five Illinois counties.
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 Lawrence County
| Period | Lawrence County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.1% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.3% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.0% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.5% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Lawrence County: 7.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Of Illinois' 102 counties, only four have higher unemployment. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
Lawrence 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence County | 2.61 | 41.5 | 10.9% | 28.2% | 15.0% | 1964 | $814 | 14.7% | 87.3% | 7.5% |
| Knox County | 2.32 | 39.7 | 11.0% | 32.2% | 13.2% | 1963 | $945 | 20.3% | 89.9% | 3.1% |
| Richland County | 2.40 | 41.7 | 8.3% | 26.2% | 13.0% | 1973 | $723 | 18.7% | 91.2% | 3.0% |
| Daviess County | 2.91 | 36.0 | 9.0% | 27.6% | 9.0% | 1975 | $808 | 16.7% | 75.1% | 1.4% |
| Clay County | 2.41 | 41.7 | 13.2% | 20.7% | 14.2% | 1975 | $719 | 13.2% | 90.5% | 4.6% |
| Martin County | 2.56 | 42.5 | 9.6% | 21.5% | 14.9% | 1979 | $694 | 13.5% | 89.0% | 2.5% |
| Lawrence County | 2.38 | 42.6 | 9.2% | 19.3% | 8.2% | 1973 | $908 | 20.4% | 89.8% | 3.4% |
| Bond County | 2.32 | 41.4 | 8.4% | 23.4% | 10.8% | 1970 | $761 | 22.9% | 90.6% | 3.8% |
| Scott County | 2.54 | 40.0 | 11.8% | 29.1% | 9.8% | 1983 | $825 | 12.8% | 86.3% | 3.6% |
| Madison County | 2.41 | 40.9 | 11.1% | 25.8% | 8.0% | 1974 | $1,069 | 32.6% | 94.1% | 4.5% |
| Jefferson County | 2.46 | 41.8 | 13.2% | 28.2% | 12.6% | 1972 | $840 | 20.1% | 90.4% | 4.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Wilson County, KS · Jackson County, MN · Jackson County, OK · Jackson County, TN · Jackson County, TX · Jackson County, WI · Jackson Parish, LA · Woodruff County, AR · Jasper County, IL · Jasper County, MS
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 Lawrence 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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