Illinois · GEOID 17095

Knox County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 49,046 · 23,758 housing units

Median household income

$57,030

State $84,845

Median home value

$111,900

State $269,776

Median gross rent

$788

State $1,303

Homeownership rate

70.8%

State 67.1%

Renter cost-burden rate

52.1%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

17.7%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

2.1%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

6.4%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

11.7%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

1.96

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Knox County	Illinois
Population	49,046	12,694,798
Population density (per sq. mi.)	68.47	—
Median household income	$57,030	$84,845
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$86,900	—
Households	20,972	—
Average household size	2.15 people	—
Owner-occupied	70.8%	67.1%
Renter-occupied	29.2%	32.9%
Race	81.9% White · 8.1% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Knox County compared with Illinois.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

21.0% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 37.8%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	20.2%	$53,764	$1,344	$169,108
1 earner	31.6%	$59,864	$1,497	$191,815
2 earners	38.8%	$106,300	$2,658	$364,665
3+ earners	9.4%	$150,476	$3,762	$529,103

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

20,972

Average size: 2.15 people

Households with children

4,445

21.2% of households

Per-capita income

$31,878

Poverty rate: 14.5%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

70.8% owner-occupied vs. state average 67.1%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 77.9% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 13.6%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

81.8% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,957.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $111,900.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $788.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 2,786 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 11.7% · For rent 15.4% · Seasonal 14.4% · Other 49.2%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

36.4% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 63.6% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

1.7%

402 units of 23,758 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

5.8%

1,371 units of 23,758 total

⚑ Above the 5% threshold — possible indicator of disinvestment, abandonment, or condemned stock.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$45,624

100% MHI$57,030

120% MHI$68,436

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Knox County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$50,250	$57,400	$71,750
100% AMI	$60,830	$69,520	$86,900
120% AMI	$73,000	$83,400	$104,300

HUD FMR Area: Knox County, IL. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

52.1% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (25.7% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

17.7% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Knox County.

Covered employment

11,067

Across 15 sectors

Establishments

885

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$42,951

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	2,362	$30,862	$83,859	−$28,041	$772
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	1,579	$20,598	$45,653	−$66,247	$515
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	1,522	$48,444	$149,306	+$37,406	$1,211
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	1,251	$61,277	$197,074	+$85,174	$1,532
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	1,044	$45,766	$139,337	+$27,437	$1,144
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	739	$43,991	$132,730	+$20,830	$1,100
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	650	$71,385	$234,700	+$122,800	$1,785
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	538	$36,031	$103,100	−$8,800	$901
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	530	$62,074	$200,041	+$88,141	$1,552
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	304	$64,239	$208,100	+$96,200	$1,606
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	214	$19,568	$41,819	−$70,081	$489
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	115	$34,088	$95,868	−$16,032	$852
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	108	$60,457	$194,022	+$82,122	$1,511
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	77	$41,704	$124,217	+$12,317	$1,043
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	34	$93,397	$316,636	+$204,736	$2,335

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	1,922	$35,070	$99,523	−$12,377	$877
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	1,522	$48,444	$149,306	+$37,406	$1,211
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	1,519	$20,414	$44,968	−$66,932	$510
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	988	$76,572	$254,007	+$142,107	$1,914
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	955	$46,507	$142,095	+$30,195	$1,163
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	700	$25,888	$65,344	−$46,556	$647
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	646	$40,328	$119,095	+$7,195	$1,008
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	454	$26,230	$66,617	−$45,283	$656
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	410	$63,783	$206,402	+$94,502	$1,595
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	284	$23,502	$56,463	−$55,437	$588
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	275	$31,626	$86,703	−$25,197	$791
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	261	$52,744	$165,312	+$53,412	$1,319
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	247	$25,550	$64,086	−$47,814	$639
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	225	$49,678	$153,899	+$41,999	$1,242
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	194	$30,367	$82,017	−$29,883	$759
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	180	$19,918	$43,122	−$68,778	$498
NAICS 311 Food manufacturing NAICS 311	171	$44,129	$133,244	+$21,344	$1,103
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	153	$62,609	$202,032	+$90,132	$1,565
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	129	$53,039	$166,410	+$54,510	$1,326
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	108	$60,457	$194,022	+$82,122	$1,511
NAICS 111 Crop production NAICS 111	108	$43,077	$129,328	+$17,428	$1,077
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	106	$48,750	$150,445	+$38,545	$1,219
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	97	$42,630	$127,664	+$15,764	$1,066
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	93	$69,432	$227,430	+$115,530	$1,736
NAICS 531 Real estate NAICS 531	76	$34,349	$96,839	−$15,061	$859
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	70	$42,742	$128,081	+$16,181	$1,069
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	61	$24,841	$61,447	−$50,453	$621
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	60	$29,523	$78,875	−$33,025	$738
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	55	$45,418	$138,042	+$26,142	$1,135
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	50	$75,133	$248,651	+$136,751	$1,878
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	42	$28,651	$75,629	−$36,271	$716
NAICS 532 Rental and leasing services NAICS 532	39	$33,579	$93,973	−$17,927	$839
NAICS 112 Animal production and aquaculture NAICS 112	35	$52,805	$165,539	+$53,639	$1,320
NAICS 517 Telecommunications NAICS 517	27	$63,213	$204,281	+$92,381	$1,580
NAICS 523 Securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities NAICS 523	22	$141,255	$494,780	+$382,880	$3,531
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	10	$52,133	$163,037	+$51,137	$1,303
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	7	$77,451	$257,279	+$145,379	$1,936
NAICS 814 Private households NAICS 814	6	$20,840	$46,554	−$65,346	$521
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	5	$66,347	$215,947	+$104,047	$1,659

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	4,140	(250)	(6%)	$15.63	$32,520	$90,031	$813
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	5,530	490	10%	$15.79	$32,830	$91,185	$821
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	630	200	47%	$16.26	$33,810	$94,833	$845
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	2,070	(400)	(16%)	$17.49	$36,380	$104,399	$910
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	3,530	(1,950)	(36%)	$17.83	$37,080	$107,005	$927
Tellers SOC 43-3071	1,110	(180)	(14%)	$18.10	$37,640	$109,089	$941
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	2,350	(100)	(4%)	$18.40	$38,270	$111,434	$957
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	3,080	(890)	(22%)	$20.59	$42,820	$128,371	$1,071
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	3,350	(600)	(15%)	$20.74	$43,140	$129,562	$1,079
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	4,480	660	17%	$25.11	$52,230	$163,398	$1,306
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	2,520	190	8%	$25.67	$53,390	$167,716	$1,335
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	300	(410)	(58%)	$25.91	$53,880	$169,540	$1,347
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	900	(320)	(26%)	$27.40	$56,990	$181,117	$1,425
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	550	(340)	(38%)	$27.51	$57,210	$181,936	$1,430
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	2,450	(80)	(3%)	—	$58,380	$186,291	$1,460
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	490	(310)	(39%)	$29.61	$61,580	$198,202	$1,540
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	1,010	(90)	(8%)	$29.81	$62,010	$199,803	$1,550
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	470	20	4%	$37.40	$77,790	$258,541	$1,945
Electricians SOC 47-2111	630	40	7%	$37.63	$78,260	$260,291	$1,957
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	3,880	(140)	(3%)	$40.20	$83,620	$280,243	$2,091

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 17095 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.