Your life in Calhoun County, Illinois

What stands out

Three things set Calhoun County apart from the other 3,142 counties: the typical two-bedroom rent is among the lowest in America ($424 a month), homeownership is among the highest in America (89%), and the uninsured rate is in the bottom 3% of American counties (4.8%). Within Illinois it ranks 1st of 102 counties for the typical two-bedroom rent, counting from the bottom.

Where you are

You live in Calhoun County, Illinois. 4,472 people live here with you, so most faces are familiar. The population shrank 0.8% last year, and more Americans moved in than out (net +19).

Illinois exempts all retirement income from its flat 4.95% income tax: Social Security, pensions, 401(k) and IRA withdrawals are untaxed. It offsets that with the second-highest property taxes in the country and an estate tax that starts at $4 million, well below the federal threshold. Chicago and the collar counties hold two-thirds of the population; downstate is a different housing market.

Money

The typical household here brings in $88,059 a year, higher than 93% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $36,322. Unemployment runs 4.0%, higher than 69% of American counties. 16% of workers work from home.

Illinois takes 5.0% of that median income in state income tax, about $4,359 a year.

Home

The median home costs $196K, cheaper than 64% of American counties, about 1.5 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $424 a month. Property tax is 1.57% of home value, roughly $2,531 a year on that median home, higher than 88% of American counties. 89% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.4 per 1,000 residents, lower than 73% of American counties.

A child born here can expect to live 77.3 years, longer than 68% of American counties. There are 2 active physicians in the county, about 4.5 per 10,000 people. 4.8% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 3.37 where 3.0 is national grade level, higher than 82% of American counties. 92% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 49 points, among the most lopsided counties in the country. 73% of eligible voters turned out. Under Illinois law you can get a concealed-carry permit on request, abortion is protected by state law, and marijuana is legal for adults.

Weather and risk

The year averages 56°F, highs near 66 and lows near 45, warmer than 50% of American counties. About 31 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 4 out of 100, safer than 96% of American counties; the county has had 25 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 75 Mbps down, slower than 94% of American counties. There is 1 airport in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 1.5 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people.

Where these numbers come from

• BLS QCEW 2024
• CDC 2024
• CMS 2024
• Census 2023
• Census ACS
• Census ACS 2022
• Census Population Estimates 2023
• Census SAHIE 2024
• County Health Rankings 2024
• Derived from ACS 2022 home value / household income
• FAA Airport Database
• FEMA Disaster Declarations 1953–2026
• FEMA National Risk Index 2023 (0–100, all hazards)
• HRSA Area Health Resources File 2023
• IMLS
• NOAA Climate Normals
• National Park Service
• Ookla Speedtest Intelligence
• Open Brewery DB
• OpenElections 2024
• SEDA via County Health Rankings 2024 (3.0 = at grade level; not a Z-score)
• Tax Foundation 2023
• USDA Food Environment Atlas
• Zillow ZHVI 2024
• Illinois tax and law data: state revenue department, Tax Foundation, Giffords, Guttmacher (2026)

Percentiles compare this county with every other county that reports the same figure. Missing figures are left out rather than guessed. Share this page: the address is permanent.