Population 20,639 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Perry County
Household size in Perry County
| Period | Perry County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.40 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.53 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.23 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.36 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
Households in Perry County are small: just 2.36 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.40, in line with the national trend.
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 Perry County
| Period | Perry County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.9 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.4 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.7 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.3 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.4 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
Perry County skews a little older than the country: its median age is 42.3, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 40.9, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the southwest, the oldest in the center.
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 Perry County
| Period | Perry County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.1% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.1% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 13.0% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.6% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in eight households in Perry County (11.6%), the same as the national share. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has risen 1.5 points, even as 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 Perry County
Renters in Perry County
| Period | Perry County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.6% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.8% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.6% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 19.1% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Perry County is largely a place of homeowners: only 19.1% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 56.0% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 2.6 points, 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 Perry County
| Period | Perry County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.8% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.2% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.0% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.9% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs high in Perry County: 12.9% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. 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 Perry County
| Period | Perry County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1964 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1967 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1969 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1973 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +4 | +6 |
Housing in Perry County leans older: the median home dates to 1973, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1964 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, 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 Perry County
| Period | Perry County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $558 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $553 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $590 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $716 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$158 | +$475 | +$606 |
The median renter in Perry County pays $716 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $158 a month from 2006–10, a 28% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 29.8% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. The priciest rents are in the northeast; the most affordable are in the center.
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 Perry County
Bachelor's degrees in Perry County
| Period | Perry County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.0% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.6% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 12.8% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.1% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Perry County: 14.1% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the north. Of Illinois' 102 counties, only six 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 Perry County
| Period | Perry County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 82.4% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 85.3% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 84.1% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 87.1% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.7 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in eight adults in Perry County never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 87.1% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma is up 4.7 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Perry County has a lower share of high school graduates than the great majority of 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 Perry County
| Period | Perry County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.1% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.9% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.4% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.0% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.1 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Perry County than nationally: unemployment was 4.0%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 5.1 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. 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).
Perry 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perry County | 2.36 | 42.3 | 11.6% | 19.1% | 12.9% | 1973 | $716 | 14.1% | 87.1% | 4.0% |
| Franklin County | 2.33 | 43.8 | 13.1% | 25.9% | 12.7% | 1964 | $819 | 15.5% | 89.4% | 7.4% |
| Randolph County | 2.32 | 43.6 | 11.7% | 23.4% | 11.8% | 1972 | $823 | 16.6% | 89.0% | 4.9% |
| Hamilton County | 2.33 | 43.5 | 8.8% | 23.6% | 11.3% | 1971 | $617 | 19.3% | 90.5% | 4.8% |
| Ste. Genevieve County | 2.57 | 43.3 | 10.9% | 17.0% | 14.4% | 1979 | $767 | 16.9% | 93.7% | 4.3% |
| White County | 2.39 | 45.3 | 10.4% | 22.9% | 15.4% | 1964 | $739 | 17.9% | 88.9% | 3.7% |
| Washington County | 2.60 | 40.8 | 11.3% | 21.6% | 16.1% | 1985 | $741 | 11.1% | 85.7% | 5.3% |
| Posey County | 2.40 | 43.4 | 10.7% | 17.7% | 6.4% | 1975 | $797 | 25.1% | 92.9% | 2.4% |
| Vanderburgh County | 2.29 | 39.6 | 12.9% | 35.0% | 9.1% | 1971 | $1,140 | 27.4% | 91.8% | 4.5% |
| Warrick County | 2.60 | 42.1 | 9.4% | 17.6% | 7.3% | 1984 | $1,082 | 35.0% | 95.2% | 3.0% |
| Crawford County | 2.34 | 42.6 | 11.1% | 30.8% | 14.1% | 1983 | $826 | 14.8% | 86.6% | 5.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Rio Grande County, CO · Jasper County, SC · Jay County, IN · Jefferson County, ID · Johnson County, AR · Randolph County, MO · Randolph County, WV · Richland County, ND · Richland Parish, LA · Rincon Municipio, PR
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 Perry 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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