CountyScore

Edgar County

Illinois · IL

#26 in Illinois
67.5
County Score

County Report Card

About Edgar County, Illinois

Edgar exceeds national livability standards

Edgar County's composite score of 66.6 significantly surpasses the national median of 50.0, ranking it in the upper tier of U.S. counties. This strong showing reflects exceptional housing affordability and low tax burdens in a rural setting.

Strong performer in Illinois

Edgar's score of 66.6 notably exceeds the Illinois state average of 62.1, positioning it among the state's best-performing counties. The advantage comes primarily from cost efficiency that few Illinois counties match.

Affordability and low taxes excel

Edgar boasts the highest cost score of 84.0 with median home values of just $95,700 and rent at $757 monthly. Tax score of 58.8 reflects an effective rate of 1.544%, the second-lowest in this group.

Limited income growth and data

The income score of 20.5—the lowest here—reflects median household income of $56,909, indicating limited economic opportunity. Critical gaps in safety, health, education, and environmental data prevent full livability understanding.

Ideal for cost-first households

Edgar County is perfect for retirees living on fixed incomes, remote workers, and families who prioritize affordability above all else. The combination of extremely low housing costs and minimal taxes maximizes monthly financial flexibility.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax58.8Cost84SafetyComing SoonHealth70.8SchoolsComing SoonIncome20.5Risk65.1WaterComing Soon
🏛58.8
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠84
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼20.5
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤70.8
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡65.1
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Edgar County with another county →

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Baldwin County
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Median income: $55,413

Deep Dives

Edgar County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Edgar County

via TaxByCounty

Edgar among the nation's most affordable

Edgar County's effective tax rate of 1.544% ranks in the nation's lowest tier, and its median property tax of just $1,478 represents one-half the national median of $2,690. With homes averaging $95,700—less than one-third the national median—Edgar County offers exceptional affordability for rural Illinois property owners.

Illinois' most affordable county for taxes

Edgar County's 1.544% effective rate ranks among Illinois' lowest and falls below the state average of 1.831%, making it one of the state's best values. The median tax bill of just $1,478 represents roughly 53% of the state average, positioning Edgar as exceptionally affordable for Illinois residents.

Edgar claims the region's lowest rate

At 1.544%, Edgar County edges out Crawford County's 1.556% for the lowest effective rate in central Illinois, while home values of $95,700 are the region's most modest. This combination makes Edgar the undisputed most affordable county in its cluster, ideal for budget-conscious rural property owners.

Budget just $1,478 for annual taxes

Edgar County homeowners pay approximately $1,478 yearly on a median home valued at $95,700—just $123 monthly. Mortgage holders see marginally higher bills at $1,562 annually, while mortgage-free owners pay $1,383, reflecting Edgar's remarkably consistent and low tax assessment structure.

Even modest appeals could help

While Edgar County's taxes are already among Illinois' lowest, property owners should still verify assessments reflect current market conditions. With relatively modest tax bills, the appeal process may offer less dramatic savings than wealthier counties, but verification remains worthwhile for rural property owners.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Edgar County

via CostByCounty

Edgar renters face significant affordability stress

Edgar County's 16.0% rent-to-income ratio signals housing affordability challenges, with renters dedicating excessive income shares to shelter from a $56,909 median household income—24% below the national median. At $757 monthly, rent consumes disproportionate resources in this lower-income economy.

Edgar struggles against state benchmarks

Edgar's 16.0% rent-to-income ratio exceeds Illinois's 14.7% state average, and the county's $56,909 median income ranks among the state's lowest. While the $757 rent sits modestly below the state average of $837, the combination of low income and high cost burden creates genuine affordability strain.

Lowest income, higher cost burden

Edgar's $757 rent matches Crawford ($761) and Cumberland ($756) on nominal costs, but the county's substantially lower median income of $56,909 means renters allocate larger income shares to housing. This creates tighter household budgets despite similar absolute rent levels.

Housing consumes excessive income shares

Edgar renters spend $757 monthly—16.0% of a $56,909 income—leaving limited funds for food, transportation, and savings. Homeowners pay $715 monthly on properties valued at $95,700, making ownership slightly more achievable than renting in this low-income county.

Edgar demands careful financial planning

Edgar County offers the region's cheapest absolute housing costs, but the combination of low income and high cost burden means residents must budget carefully. Those relocating here should ensure income exceeds county medians to avoid the affordability squeeze facing typical Edgar households.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Edgar County

via IncomeByCounty

Edgar Ranks in Nation's Bottom Quartile

Edgar County's median household income of $56,909 falls $17,846 below the national median of $74,755, a 23.9% deficit placing it among the nation's lowest-income counties. This gap reflects Edgar's rural agricultural base and limited employment diversification.

Significantly Below Illinois Average

Edgar's median of $56,909 trails Illinois's state average of $68,580 by $11,671, or 17%, one of the largest state deficits in this analysis. The county's per capita income of $33,566 also lags state average by $2,443, indicating both lower household and individual earnings.

Second-Lowest in Rural Cluster

Edgar's $56,909 ranks only above Edwards County ($59,386), reflecting the economic challenges of south-central Illinois agriculture. The $8,677 gap to De Witt represents a cumulative disadvantage for Edgar residents seeking regional economic opportunity.

Housing Strain Signals Hardship

Edgar's rent-to-income ratio of 16.0% approaches critical affordability thresholds, meaning housing costs consume a larger-than-comfortable share of already-modest incomes. The median home value of $95,700, while lowest in the cluster, still represents a challenging burden for households averaging under $57K.

Focus on Income Growth Strategies

Edgar residents face significant wealth-building headwinds and should prioritize strategies that increase earnings: vocational training, community college credentials, and job transitions to higher-wage sectors. Organizations offering free financial literacy, matched savings programs, and employer benefits counseling can help offset income constraints.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Edgar County

via HealthByCounty

Edgar's life expectancy significantly trails nation

Edgar County residents live to just 74.0 years, falling nearly 2.5 years short of the U.S. average of 76.4 years. The 18.5% poor/fair health rate underscores serious population health challenges that demand targeted intervention.

Illinois's shortest-lived county

Edgar County's 74.0-year life expectancy ranks as the lowest among all featured Illinois counties and lags the state average of 76.0 years by two full years. This gap signals significant underlying health disparities in Edgar.

Health crisis in rural Illinois

Edgar County's 74.0-year life expectancy is dramatically lower than all nearby counties, trailing even De Witt (75.1) by more than a year and DuPage (81.3) by over seven years. The 18.5% poor/fair health rate places Edgar in the worst tier regionally.

Severe primary care shortage

Edgar County's 6.2% uninsured rate is near the state average, but this masks a critical access crisis: the county has only 24 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, the lowest in the region. While mental health support is available at 269 providers per 100,000, the scarcity of primary care directly threatens preventive health and chronic disease management.

Coverage is just the start

Edgar County's health crisis requires insurance plus action—6.2% of residents lack coverage, and those with it face severe provider shortages. Secure coverage at healthcare.gov and advocate for expanded rural healthcare access in your community to address Edgar's health emergency.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Edgar County

via RiskByCounty

Edgar well below national disaster average

Edgar County's composite risk score of 34.92 earns a "Very Low" rating, placing it substantially below the national average for natural disaster exposure. Residents enjoy significantly better odds than typical Americans across multiple hazard categories.

Among Illinois's safer counties

Edgar's 34.92 score falls well below Illinois's 54.46 state average, ranking it in the lower third of the state's counties. The county demonstrates consistent resilience against multiple natural hazard types compared to state norms.

Comparable to southern Illinois cluster

Edgar (34.92) ranks slightly riskier than Crawford (37.02) but safer than most of Illinois, sitting near Cumberland (25.86) and De Witt (29.26). This grouping of counties reflects the low-risk characteristics of south-central Illinois.

Tornado and hurricane exposure notable

Tornadoes present Edgar's highest risk at 48.09, followed by surprisingly elevated hurricane exposure at 42.59 for a central Illinois county. Earthquakes (82.63) rank high numerically but remain below state averages in practical impact.

Tornado insurance and planning key

Standard homeowners insurance with comprehensive wind coverage protects against Edgar's primary tornado threat, supplemented by a household severe weather plan. Given the county's very low overall risk, basic preparedness provides excellent protection for residents.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.