A life in Jo Daviess County, Illinois

Where you are

You live in Jo Daviess County, Illinois. 21,942 people live here with you. The population shrank 0.4% last year, and more Americans moved in than out (net +45).

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 $67,729 a year, higher than 69% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $46,804. Unemployment runs 3.7%, higher than 60% of American counties. 11% of workers work from home; for the rest the average commute is 19 minutes each way.

Illinois takes 5.0% of that median income in state income tax, about $3,353 a year.

Home

The median home costs $254K, pricier than 57% of American counties, about 2.1 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $778 a month. Property tax is 1.88% of home value, roughly $3,370 a year on that median home, higher than 95% of American counties. 80% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.4 per 1,000 residents, lower than 74% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 9 people per 100,000 in 2024.

A child born here can expect to live 80.7 years, longer than 94% of American counties. There are 20 active physicians in the county, about 9.1 per 10,000 people. 6.6% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 3.25 where 3.0 is national grade level, higher than 92% of American counties. 94% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 17 points. 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 49°F, highs near 60 and lows near 38, colder than 78% of American counties. About 31 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 44 out of 100, safer than 55% of American counties; the county has had 16 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 220 Mbps down, faster than 59% of American counties. There are 4 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 1.4 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 3 museums.

Sources for this story

• 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
• DataSpine derived — 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.