CountyScore

Greene County

Illinois · IL

#17 in Illinois
68.3
County Score

County Report Card

About Greene County, Illinois

Greene ranks solidly above average

Greene County's composite score of 65.4 significantly exceeds the national median of 50.0, placing it comfortably in the upper half of U.S. counties. This reflects balanced strength across housing affordability and tax burden.

Outperforms state average clearly

At 65.4, Greene ranks above Illinois's state average of 62.1, marking it as one of the state's better-performing counties. It competes well with other Illinois markets in overall livability metrics.

Affordability and moderate income

Greene scores 83.3 on cost with median home values at $94,400 and rent averaging $800 monthly. The income score of 23.2 at a median household income of $60,976 is among the strongest in this group.

Tax burden slightly elevated

The tax score of 55.7 and effective rate of 1.657% are moderate but higher than top performers in this analysis. Limited data on schools, safety, and health outcomes restrict a fuller assessment of livability.

Balanced choice for rural families

Greene suits families seeking rural living with slightly stronger earning potential than other counties in this group. It represents a middle-ground choice for those wanting modest affordability without extreme compromises on local income.

Score breakdown

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

Tax55.7Cost83.3SafetyComing SoonHealth69.6SchoolsComing SoonIncome23.2Risk87.1WaterComing Soon
🏛55.7
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠83.3
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼23.2
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤69.6
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡87.1
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 Greene County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Etowah County
Alabama
68.3
Median income: $53,070
Greene County
Arkansas
68.3
Median income: $56,793
Charlton County
Georgia
68.3
Median income: $48,534
Wilkes County
Georgia
68.3
Median income: $52,542
Wright County
Iowa
68.3
Median income: $64,033

Deep Dives

Greene County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Greene County

via TaxByCounty

Greene County moderately above average

Greene County's 1.657% effective tax rate exceeds the national median of 1.562% by about 6%, placing it in the 55th percentile nationally. With a median home value of $94,400, residents pay $1,564 annually—well below the national median tax of $2,690.

Slightly above state average

Illinois averages 1.831%, and Greene County's 1.657% rate runs 0.174 percentage points below that, making it more affordable than most of the state. Residents pay $1,564 annually, roughly 44% less than the state median of $2,782, offering solid value for homeowners.

Mid-range for the south-central region

Greene County's 1.657% rate places it in the middle of this region—higher than Franklin (1.501%), Gallatin (1.506%), Fayette (1.517%), and Effingham (1.509%), but lower than Ford (2.069%), Fulton (2.133%), and Grundy (2.029%). It's a reasonable compromise between affordability and the county's services.

What your home costs to own

A typical Greene County home valued at $94,400 generates $1,564 in annual property taxes—moderately priced for the region. Homeowners with mortgages pay $1,820 yearly; over a 30-year loan, that's $54,600 in taxes, a manageable cost for families in the area.

Assessment review pays off here too

Even in moderately-priced counties, overassessment wastes homeowner dollars; Greene County residents should verify their assessments match recent comparable sales. A free appeal to the county assessor could trim your annual tax bill by hundreds, with no risk or cost.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Greene County

via CostByCounty

Greene County rents nibble at wages

Renters in Greene County spend 15.7% of their $60,976 median income on housing—above the national comfort threshold but moderate for downstate Illinois. The $800 monthly rent is mid-range compared to peers, and local incomes slightly exceed several neighboring counties, offering modest breathing room.

Slightly above Illinois affordability average

Greene County's 15.7% rent-to-income ratio exceeds Illinois's state average of 14.7%, placing it in the middle tier of state affordability rankings. Rents at $800 remain below the state median of $837, suggesting the affordability gap reflects local wage patterns rather than excessive costs.

Competitive middle ground regionally

Greene County's 15.7% rent-to-income ratio nearly matches Fayette (15.6%) and sits comfortably below Ford (16.5%) and Franklin (17.3%), while its $800 rent falls between Fulton ($808) and Fayette ($740). The county offers regional balance without standing out as exceptionally affordable or expensive.

Wages support modest rental standards

Greene households earn $60,976 annually, directing $800 monthly toward rent (15.7% of income) or $709 for mortgages, leaving room for other obligations. The median home value of $94,400 remains accessible for buyers with typical local incomes, though still represents a commitment.

Greene offers reliable middle-ground option

Greene County appeals if you want modest affordability and stable local incomes without seeking extremes—it's affordable than Effingham yet more stable than Franklin. Compare with Fayette for similar ratios or Gallatin if you prioritize rock-bottom rent above other factors.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Greene County

via IncomeByCounty

Greene lags far behind national norm

Greene County's median household income of $60,976 falls $13,779 short of the national median of $74,755, placing it in the 32nd percentile nationally. This income level is characteristic of economically strained rural Midwestern counties.

Below-average earner in Illinois

Greene County's household income of $60,976 trails the Illinois state average of $68,580 by approximately $7,600, ranking it in the lower-middle tier of state counties. Per capita income of $33,174 also falls below the state average of $36,009.

Comparable to similar rural counties

Greene County households earn $60,976, placing them between Ford County ($60,782) and Fulton County ($58,617), though below Effingham County ($75,380). These clustered incomes suggest shared economic conditions across central Illinois agricultural and former manufacturing regions.

Housing costs moderately burdensome

Greene County's rent-to-income ratio of 15.7% is elevated, indicating housing costs consume a substantial share of income. A median home value of $94,400 remains relatively affordable, but the rent burden suggests rental housing may pose greater challenges than homeownership.

Start with employer benefits first

Greene County households should maximize any employer 401(k) matching before investing elsewhere—it's an immediate return on contributions. Follow with a modest emergency fund, then gradually build additional retirement savings as income allows.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Greene County

via HealthByCounty

Life expectancy well below U.S. average

Greene County residents have a life expectancy of 73.6 years, falling 2.8 years short of the U.S. average of 76.4 years. Nearly 19% report poor or fair health, reflecting a community burdened by chronic disease and limited wellness.

Below Illinois average with insurance gap

At 73.6 years, Greene County's life expectancy lags Illinois's state average of 76.0 years by 2.4 years. The 6.8% uninsured rate slightly exceeds the state average of 6.3%, putting additional people at risk of forgoing care.

Midrange performance in region

Greene County's 73.6-year life expectancy sits between lowest-performing Gallatin County (72.6) and higher-performing Fulton County (74.9). With just 17 primary care providers per 100K, the county ranks among the region's most provider-scarce areas.

Severe provider shortages compound challenges

Greene County has only 17 primary care providers per 100K residents—the region's lowest—forcing many to travel for routine care. Mental health provider data is unavailable, but the 6.8% uninsured rate and sparse primary care suggest systemic access barriers.

Insurance and advocacy are vital

With the fewest primary care providers in the region and above-average uninsured rates, Greene residents should prioritize enrollment. Visit Healthcare.gov or call 211 to apply for coverage, then advocate for local clinic expansion.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Greene County

via RiskByCounty

Greene County: safest in America's top tier

Greene County's composite risk score of just 12.98 places it among the safest counties in the entire United States, earning a "Very Low" rating. Residents here face remarkably low exposure to natural disasters compared to nearly all American communities.

Illinois's lowest-risk county

Greene County's 12.98 score sits over 41 points below Illinois's state average of 54.46, making it by far the state's safest region. No other county in this analysis comes remotely close to Greene's exceptional safety profile.

Dramatically safer than all peers

Greene County's 12.98 substantially outperforms every regional neighbor, from Gallatin (33.87) to Fulton (59.00) to Franklin (80.95). Greene residents enjoy an exceptionally favorable natural disaster risk profile across western Illinois.

Minimal hazard exposure across the board

Even Greene County's most significant risk—tornado at 31.90—ranks among the lowest in Illinois, and earthquake (55.82), flood (13.20), and hurricane (18.31) risks all remain negligible. Wildfire risk is essentially nonexistent at 0.25.

Basic homeowners insurance sufficient

Greene County's exceptional safety means standard homeowners insurance with wind/tornado coverage likely provides all the natural disaster protection most residents need. Earthquake insurance is unnecessary given Greene's minimal 55.82 earthquake score.

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.