State rank#9 of 102
Smallest county253,694 residentsCook County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 17163
St. Clair County, Illinois
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population253,694
Household income$73,854
Unemployment4.7%
Life expectancy74.1 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
St. Clair County has 253,694 residents and ranks #9 by population among Illinois county equivalents. Median household income is $73,854. The annual-average unemployment rate is 4.7%. Its clearest relative strength is bachelor’s degree or higher. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within Illinois
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to St. Clair County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside St. Clair County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is bachelor’s degree or higher.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $180,300 median home value and $1,090/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $73,854, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
St. Clair County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing bachelor’s degree or higher, uninsured, and primary care access. College attainment is 31.8% and life expectancy is 74.1 years.
Potential advantages
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 31.8%, rank #17 of 102 available Illinois counties.
- Uninsured: 5.3%, rank #17 of 102 available Illinois counties.
- Primary care access: 1 per 1,699 residents, rank #21 of 94 available Illinois counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Median gross rent: $1,090/mo, rank #93 of 102; investigate local variation before moving.
- Life expectancy: 74.1 years, rank #87 of 102; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median home value: $180,300, rank #80 of 102; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within Illinois
Rank and range use only counties in Illinois with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$73,854
$73,854; above the state county median of $66,532.
State rank #29 of 102 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$180,300
$180,300; above the state county median of $134,650.
State rank #80 of 102 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$1,090/mo
$1,090/mo; above the state county median of $811/mo.
State rank #93 of 102 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
4.7%
4.7%; above the state county median of 4.6%.
State rank #53 of 102 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
31.8%
31.8%; above the state county median of 20.9%.
State rank #17 of 102 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
74.1 years
74.1 years; below the state county median of 75.9 years.
State rank #87 of 102 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
17.6%
17.6%; below the state county median of 18%.
State rank #45 of 102 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
5.3%
5.3%; below the state county median of 6%.
State rank #17 of 102 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 1,699 residents
1 per 1,699 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 2,412 residents.
State rank #21 of 94 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 528 residents
1 per 528 residents; at the state county median of 1 per 528 residents.
State rank #49 of 97 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
St. Clair County FAQ
Is St. Clair County a good place to live?
St. Clair County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing bachelor’s degree or higher, uninsured, and primary care access. College attainment is 31.8% and life expectancy is 74.1 years.
What should I know before moving to St. Clair County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $180,300 median home value and $1,090/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $73,854, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of St. Clair County?
St. Clair County has 253,694 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for St. Clair County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 17163; the parent state FIPS is 17.
What is the median household income in St. Clair County?
The ACS median household income is $73,854.
How much does housing cost in St. Clair County?
Housing benchmarks are $180,300 median home value and $1,090/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $73,854, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in St. Clair County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 4.7%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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