CountyScore

Henry County

Illinois · IL

#58 in Illinois
63.2
County Score

County Report Card

About Henry County, Illinois

Henry matches national benchmark

Henry County's composite score of 60.8 exceeds the national median of 50.0 by 22%, placing it in solid above-average territory. This performance reflects Henry's particular strength in income levels despite moderate tax burden.

Slightly below Illinois average

Henry's 60.8 score falls just 2% below Illinois's state average of 62.1, positioning it as a near-average performer. While competitive with many Illinois counties, Henry doesn't gain a state-level advantage.

Income potential stands out

Henry's income score of 29.0 and median household income of $69,912 are the highest among these eight counties, offering genuine earning potential. Cost score of 79.3 keeps housing reasonable despite higher home values ($145,300 median).

Taxes significantly above average

Henry's effective tax rate of 1.980% and tax score of just 46.6 are the heaviest burden among this group, eroding household purchasing power. Data gaps in safety, health, schools, and environment prevent full quality-of-life assessment.

For those chasing higher income

Henry County suits professionals and households with higher earning potential who can absorb above-average taxes. The county rewards income growth with quality housing, though budget-conscious families may balk at tax bills.

Score breakdown

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

Tax46.6Cost79.3SafetyComing SoonHealth76.5SchoolsComing SoonIncome29Risk42.9WaterComing Soon
🏛46.6
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠79.3
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼29
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤76.5
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡42.9
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 Henry County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Floyd County
Georgia
63.2
Median income: $62,540
Barton County
Kansas
63.2
Median income: $56,733
Fayette County
Kentucky
63.2
Median income: $67,631
Nantucket County
Massachusetts
63.2
Median income: $119,750
Dakota County
Minnesota
63.2
Median income: $105,212

Deep Dives

Henry County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Henry County

via TaxByCounty

Henry County's Tax Rate Above National Average

At 1.98%, Henry County's effective tax rate exceeds the national median of 1.82%, placing it in the 65th percentile nationally. Homeowners here pay more in property taxes relative to home values than about two-thirds of Americans.

Henry County Ranks Above State Average

Henry County's effective tax rate of 1.98% exceeds the Illinois state average of 1.83%, ranking it among the higher-taxed counties statewide. At $2,877 median annual property taxes, residents pay nearly $100 more annually than the state's typical household.

Highest-Taxed County in Region

Henry County's 1.98% rate is the highest among all regional peers, exceeding Hancock (1.86%), Jackson (1.91%), and Jasper (1.91%) counties. Homeowners here bear the heaviest property tax burden in west-central Illinois.

Median Home Costs Nearly $2,877 Yearly

On a median home value of $145,300, Henry County homeowners pay approximately $2,877 annually in property taxes. With a mortgage, that figure rises to $3,111 when including additional assessments.

Appeals Especially Valuable in High-Tax Counties

Given Henry County's relatively high tax burden, assessment appeals are particularly worthwhile—even modest reductions yield substantial annual savings. Many homeowners discover their assessments exceed fair market value and can successfully challenge inflated evaluations.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Henry County

via CostByCounty

Henry County: moderate affordability, higher values

At 14.4%, Henry County's rent-to-income ratio sits just below Illinois's 14.7% state average and comfortably under the national 30% threshold. However, the county's median home value of $145,300 is notably the highest in this comparison group, reflecting stronger property appreciation.

Mid-range affordability with premium homes

Henry County's $837 median rent matches Illinois's state average exactly, but its 14.4% rent-to-income ratio ranks it among the state's more affordable counties. The median home value of $145,300 significantly exceeds most Illinois peers, suggesting stronger equity-building potential.

Highest home values in the region

Henry County's $145,300 median home value substantially exceeds neighbors like Hamilton ($108,800) and Hancock ($108,400), with homeowners paying $923 monthly—higher than most peers. This premium reflects stronger property appreciation and a more competitive real estate market.

Rents average, ownership premium

With median household income of $69,912, Henry County residents pay $837 in rent (14.4% of income) and $923 for homeownership on properties valued 33% above the county average. The combination suggests strong property values supporting wealth-building through ownership.

Quality homes worth the investment

If building equity through homeownership appeals to you, Henry County's higher property values and robust market offer solid long-term potential. Compare its ownership costs against neighbors—the premium may pay dividends as a growing market.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Henry County

via IncomeByCounty

Henry ranks among top earners regionally

Henry County's median household income of $69,912 nearly matches the U.S. median of $74,755, falling short by just $4,843. This places Henry among the strongest-earning counties in the eight-county sample.

Above Illinois state average

Henry's $69,912 median exceeds the state average of $68,580 by about $1,332, putting it in the upper-middle tier of Illinois counties. This modest outperformance reflects a stable, diversified local economy.

Henry outearns most regional peers

Henry County ($69,912) leads all peers except Jasper County ($71,094), commanding incomes notably above Hancock ($65,044), Hamilton ($61,520), and Hardin ($57,155). This positions Henry as a relative economic anchor in southwestern Illinois.

Rising home values test affordability

Henry's rent-to-income ratio of 14.4% remains just below stress threshold, but median home values of $145,300 are the highest in the sample. Buyers need strong down payments and stable income to manage these higher property costs.

Higher incomes enable serious investing

Per capita income of $38,767 and median household earnings of $69,912 give Henry residents room to save aggressively and invest. Households should leverage this advantage through retirement accounts, home equity, and diversified portfolios.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Henry County

via HealthByCounty

Henry County leads region on life expectancy

At 77.4 years, Henry County residents live longer than the U.S. average of 76.4 years, benefiting from health advantages that add nearly a year of life. Only 15.5% report poor or fair health, well below the national 17.3% rate.

Top performer on Illinois health metrics

Henry County's 77.4-year life expectancy ranks among Illinois's best, exceeding the state average of 76.0 by 1.4 years. With a 6.0% uninsured rate essentially matching the state's 6.3%, residents enjoy both longevity and reasonable coverage.

Near the top of peer group rankings

Henry County's 77.4 years trails only Jasper County's 77.8 among its regional peers and matches Hancock County's 77.3. Its low poor/fair health rate of 15.5% is among the best in the county comparison group.

Balanced primary care, solid mental health access

Henry County provides 23 primary care providers and 54 mental health providers per 100,000 residents, both at reasonable levels for a rural county. These moderate capacity levels align with the county's strong health outcomes, suggesting efficient, community-based care.

Maintain coverage for sustained good health

Henry County's strong health outcomes reflect consistent access to care—keep your coverage current to preserve these advantages. If uninsured, explore marketplace options at healthcare.gov or Medicaid to join 94% of county residents with health security.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Henry County

via RiskByCounty

Henry County faces elevated risk

Henry County scores 57.09 on the composite risk scale, earning a Relatively Low rating that slightly exceeds Illinois' state average of 54.46. Your county experiences roughly the same natural disaster risk as typical Illinois communities, with notable exposure to tornadoes and flooding. This mid-range position reflects a blend of moderate-to-high hazard exposure across multiple disaster types.

Above-average risk among Illinois counties

Henry County ranks slightly above the Illinois state average of 54.46 with a composite score of 57.09, placing it in the middle band of state hazard exposure. While many Illinois counties face lower risk, others experience substantially more—Henry's position reflects above-average vulnerability to tornadoes (70.36) and flooding (51.53). This intermediate standing calls for proactive hazard preparedness across multiple threat types.

Riskier than safer neighbors

Henry County's 57.09 risk score significantly exceeds nearby Henderson County (17.53), Hancock County (31.08), and Hardin County (8.30), making it the riskiest in the immediate region. Jackson County (87.12) to the southeast faces substantially more hazard exposure, driven by higher earthquake and flood risks. Hamilton County (30.82), though safer, still faces considerably less overall risk than Henry.

Tornadoes and flooding dominate

Tornadoes represent the highest hazard at 70.36, making Henry County vulnerable to powerful springtime storms that can cause severe property damage and injury—this is a critical preparedness priority. Flooding ranks second at 51.53, reflecting exposure to river systems and flood-prone areas where water damage can devastate homes and infrastructure. Earthquakes (58.11) and wildfire (7.12) pose tertiary but real risks worth acknowledging.

Essential protections for Henry County

Flood insurance is crucial in Henry County given your elevated flood risk (51.53)—most properties in mapped flood zones are required to carry it, and it's prudent for others as well. Tornado preparedness is non-negotiable: identify and stock a safe room, establish family communication protocols, and stay weather-aware during spring months. Consider earthquake coverage as well, given the moderate seismic risk (58.11), and review all policies annually to ensure adequate coverage.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

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