CountyScore

Edwards County

Illinois · IL

#9 in Illinois
70
County Score

County Report Card

About Edwards County, Illinois

Edwards tops this county comparison

Edwards County's composite score of 68.1 is the highest in this group and substantially exceeds the national median of 50.0. This Southern Illinois county demonstrates exceptional livability value by national standards.

Best performer among Illinois counties

Edwards's score of 68.1 significantly surpasses the Illinois state average of 62.1, making it one of the state's most livable counties overall. The lead stems from unmatched affordability paired with minimal tax obligations.

Lowest taxes and highest affordability

Edwards leads with a cost score of 84.9 and tax score of 61.0, reflecting an effective tax rate of 1.466%—the lowest among all eight counties. Median home values of $97,500 and rent at $746 monthly create genuine monthly savings.

Income levels constrained

The income score of 22.2 and median household income of $59,386 represent significant limitations for income-focused households. Safety, health, school, and environmental quality data gaps leave important livability questions unanswered.

Premier choice for budget living

Edwards County is the standout for anyone seeking maximum affordability with minimal tax burden—ideal for retirees, remote workers, and families building savings. The lowest cost and tax profile in this group make it exceptional for stretch-limited budgets.

Score breakdown

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

Tax61Cost84.9SafetyComing SoonHealth73.9SchoolsComing SoonIncome22.2Risk73.9WaterComing Soon
🏛61
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠84.9
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼22.2
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤73.9
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡73.9
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 Edwards County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

St. Clair County
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70
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Median income: $37,981
Sitka City and Borough
Alaska
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Median income: $101,207
Lee County
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70
Median income: $36,860
Pike County
Georgia
70
Median income: $84,184

Deep Dives

Edwards County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Edwards County

via TaxByCounty

Edwards offers exceptional tax affordability

Edwards County's effective tax rate of 1.466% ranks among the nation's absolute lowest, and its median property tax of $1,429 represents just 53% of the national median of $2,690. With homes valued at only $97,500—one-third the national average—Edwards County represents some of America's most affordable property tax territory.

Illinois' lowest effective tax rate

Edwards County claims Illinois' lowest effective tax rate at 1.466%, significantly below the state average of 1.831%, and its median tax bill of $1,429 trails the state average by more than half. This positions Edwards as the state's single most affordable county for property taxes, ideal for those prioritizing low tax burden.

Edwards edges out all regional competitors

At 1.466%, Edwards County's rate undercuts even Edgar County's 1.544%, claiming the region's lowest effective rate by a meaningful margin. Combined with median home values of $97,500, Edwards delivers the absolute lowest tax burden in central Illinois, making it uniquely affordable even among this budget-friendly cluster.

Pay just $1,429 in annual property taxes

Edwards County homeowners pay approximately $1,429 per year on a median home valued at $97,500—just $119 monthly. Mortgage holders see higher bills at $1,780 annually, while mortgage-free owners pay $1,286, suggesting some variation in assessment patterns despite Edwards' overall status as exceptionally low-tax.

Verify your assessment regardless

Even in Illinois' lowest-tax county, property owners should confirm their assessment aligns with current market values and recent comparable sales. Formal appeals remain accessible to all Edwards County residents and could yield additional savings, however modest, on an already-minimal tax bill.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Edwards County

via CostByCounty

Edwards renters navigate modest affordability challenges

Edwards County's 15.1% rent-to-income ratio reflects some housing cost pressure relative to national benchmarks, with renters spending $746 monthly from a $59,386 median household income—20% below the U.S. median. The combination of lower income and elevated cost burden creates modest but real financial stress.

Edwards slightly exceeds state affordability

Edwards's 15.1% rent-to-income ratio modestly exceeds Illinois's 14.7% state average, and the $746 median rent sits slightly below the state mean of $837. The county occupies an affordability middle ground within Illinois's housing landscape.

Lowest absolute rent in the region

Edwards's $746 rent represents the region's cheapest option, just below Crawford ($761), Cumberland ($756), and Edgar County ($757). The minimal savings versus peers reflect Edwards's status as the lowest-income county in this group, limiting residents' financial flexibility despite modest costs.

Both housing types demand budget discipline

Edwards renters spend $746 monthly on housing (15.1% of income), while homeowners pay $670 on properties valued at $97,500—making ownership slightly more favorable financially. Despite modest absolute costs, both options consume substantial portions of the $59,386 median income.

Edwards suits those prioritizing lowest costs

Edwards County offers the region's cheapest absolute housing prices, making it attractive to budget-conscious relocators accepting modest incomes. Compare carefully to slightly higher-income alternatives like Cumberland or Crawford to determine if Edwards's cost advantage justifies potential economic trade-offs.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Edwards County

via IncomeByCounty

Edwards Among America's Lowest-Income

Edwards County's median household income of $59,386 lags the national median of $74,755 by $15,369, a 20.6% shortfall placing it in the nation's lowest-income quartile. This gap reflects limited economic opportunities and an aging, agriculture-dependent population.

Trailing State Average by $9,194

Edwards's median of $59,386 falls $9,194, or 13.4%, below Illinois's state average of $68,580—one of the largest deficits here. Per capita income of $31,314 significantly trails the state average of $36,009, indicating both household and individual economic stress.

Lowest-Income County in Group

Edwards's $59,386 is the absolute lowest in this eight-county analysis, trailing Edgar County ($56,909) only by $2,477. The gap to the next-lowest De Witt reaches $5,416, cementing Edwards's position as the region's most economically challenged county.

Critical Housing Affordability Issues

Edwards's rent-to-income ratio of 15.1% reflects tight housing budgets despite the lowest median home values ($97,500) in the cluster. For households near the county median, housing costs consume an uncomfortably large share of already-stretched incomes.

Seek External Resources and Opportunity

Edwards residents need targeted support: accessing community development grants, small business microloans, and regional job training programs can lift income trajectories. Working with nonprofits specializing in rural economic development and financial counseling offers the most realistic path to building household wealth.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Edwards County

via HealthByCounty

Edwards matches national life expectancy

Edwards County residents live to 76.1 years, nearly matching the U.S. average of 76.4 years. With 16.9% reporting poor or fair health, Edwards's population health aligns with national norms, though room for improvement exists.

Slight edge over Illinois average

Edwards County's 76.1-year life expectancy narrowly exceeds Illinois's state average of 76.0 years, placing it slightly above the state median. The 16.9% poor/fair health rate is also near state norms.

Middle-of-the-pack performer

Edwards County's 76.1-year life expectancy ranks it in the middle of the regional group, outperforming Edgar (74.0) and De Witt (75.1) but trailing Cumberland (77.1) and DuPage (81.3). The 16.9% poor/fair health rate places it near regional averages.

Limited primary care visibility

Edwards County's 6.3% uninsured rate exactly matches the Illinois state average, meaning roughly 1 in 16 residents lack coverage. Primary care provider data is not available for Edwards, but the county offers 50 mental health providers per 100,000 residents, below regional averages.

Don't become the uninsured 6%

In Edwards County, 6.3% of residents navigate healthcare without insurance—a precarious situation that can lead to debt and delayed care. Visit healthcare.gov to check if you qualify for subsidized plans and ensure your family is protected.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Edwards County

via RiskByCounty

Edwards ranks safest among eight counties

Edwards County's 26.14 composite risk score achieves "Very Low" status and sits far below the national average for natural disasters. Residents enjoy exceptional protection from the multi-hazard exposure facing most American households.

Illinois's second-safest county

Edwards's 26.14 score ranks it among the two lowest-risk counties in Illinois, substantially below the 54.46 state average. Only Cumberland County (25.86) matches Edwards's minimal natural disaster exposure across the entire state.

Virtually tied with Cumberland for safest

Edwards (26.14) and Cumberland (25.86) represent the two safest counties in south-central Illinois, separated by less than half a point. Crawford (37.02) and De Witt (29.26) follow at a noticeable distance, making Edwards and Cumberland a uniquely protected pair.

Tornado risk slightly elevated

Tornadoes represent Edwards's primary concern at 30.03, followed by earthquakes (83.68) and hurricanes (22.95) as secondary considerations. Flooding at 21.50 and wildfire at just 0.76 round out an exceptionally favorable hazard profile for residents.

Basic coverage provides strong protection

Standard homeowners insurance paired with basic tornado awareness covers Edwards County's primary natural disaster exposure quite thoroughly. The county's remarkably low overall risk means households can focus on general preparedness rather than specialized coverage.

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.