CountyScore

Pope County

Illinois · IL

#1 in Illinois
76.1
County Score

County Report Card

About Pope County, Illinois

Pope County Ranks Among Top National Performers

Pope County's composite score of 75.9 towers 52% above the national median of 50.0, placing it firmly in the top tier of American counties. This exceptional ranking reflects genuine livability advantages across measured dimensions.

Illinois's Livability Champion

Pope County dominates Illinois's livability landscape with a score of 75.9 compared to the state average of 62.1—a gap of nearly 14 points. The county is Illinois's clear leader among this group on composite livability.

Lowest Taxes, Highest Affordability

Pope County's standout strength is its tax score of 73.6, anchored by an effective tax rate of just 1.021%, the lowest among all eight counties profiled. Combined with a cost score of 90.6—the group's highest—and median rents of only $438 monthly, Pope offers unmatched affordability and tax relief.

Income Growth Opportunity Exists

Pope's income score of 24.2 and median household income of $62,500 suggest wage growth remains limited. We're gathering school, health, safety, and environmental data to complete the livability evaluation.

Best Choice for Maximum Value

Pope County is the top choice for anyone prioritizing low taxes and exceptional housing affordability, especially retirees and fixed-income households. If stretching your dollars matters most, Pope delivers the county's clearest livability advantage.

Score breakdown

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

Tax73.6Cost90.6SafetyComing SoonHealth73.6SchoolsComing SoonIncome24.2Risk85.1WaterComing Soon
🏛73.6
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠90.6
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼24.2
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤73.6
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡85.1
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 Pope County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

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Choctaw County
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76.1
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Eddy County
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76.1
Median income: $55,389
Sherman County
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76.1
Median income: $59,500
Clark County
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Median income: $62,885

Deep Dives

Pope County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Pope County

via TaxByCounty

Pope County: Lowest-taxing county examined

Pope County's 1.02% effective tax rate is extraordinarily low, ranking in the bottom 5% of U.S. counties and less than half the national median of 2.10%. The median property tax of $1,687 is 37% below the national median, despite a median home value of $165,300 that's relatively healthy for the region.

Pope County far below Illinois average

At 1.02%, Pope County's effective rate is 44% lower than the Illinois state average of 1.83%, making it a rare tax haven in the state. Its median property tax of $1,687 is 39% below the state average, delivering substantial savings for homeowners.

Pope County far outlasts tax competitors

Pope County's 1.02% rate is dramatically lower than all regional neighbors: Perry County (1.66%), Pike County (1.56%), Putnam County (1.59%), and Piatt County (1.76%). No comparable county comes close to Pope's exceptional tax advantage.

What a Pope County homeowner pays

On the median home value of $165,300, Pope County's 1.02% effective rate means homeowners pay approximately $1,687 annually in property taxes. With a mortgage, expect $1,755; without one, around $1,637—among the lowest tax burdens in the entire region.

Maintain your assessment advantage

Pope County's unusually low tax rate is a major financial advantage, but homeowners should still monitor their assessments to ensure they remain accurate. Regular appeal reviews help protect this valuable benefit from assessment creep.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Pope County

via CostByCounty

Pope County is Illinois's affordability outlier

Pope County's 8.4% rent-to-income ratio is exceptional—less than half the state average of 14.7%—thanks to extraordinarily low rents of just $438 monthly. This rural county offers the deepest affordability advantage among these eight, though median income of $62,500 remains below the national average.

Illinois's most affordable rental market

Pope County stands alone among Illinois counties for housing affordability, with rents nearly 48% below the state median of $837. Its 8.4% rent-to-income ratio is unmatched in this group and among the best in the entire state.

Pope's rents dwarf regional competition

Pope County's $438 median rent is dramatically lower than all neighbors—Pike ($659), Perry ($714), and Richland ($754)—making it Illinois's bargain basement for renters. Even homeowners pay just $675 monthly for a $165,300 median home, suggesting unique rural market dynamics.

Unbeatable affordability for renters

Pope County renters pay just $438 monthly while homeowners pay $675, among the lowest costs in the region despite a $165,300 median home value. Housing consumes only 8.4% of household income—leaving residents substantially more for savings, food, and other necessities.

Pope County for maximum savings

If affordability is your priority and you can embrace Pope County's rural character, rents of $438 monthly are unmatched in Illinois. This is where renters stretch their dollars furthest and build savings fastest.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Pope County

via IncomeByCounty

Pope County trails national income levels

Pope County's median household income of $62,500 falls 17% below the U.S. median of $74,755, reflecting rural economic constraints. However, the county ranks above several peers in this regional cluster.

Modestly below Illinois average

Pope County earns $6,080 less than the Illinois state median of $68,580, placing it in the lower-middle tier statewide. Per capita income of $31,016 also runs about 14% below the state average of $36,009.

Competitive standing regionally

Pope County's $62,500 median ranks fourth among the eight surveyed counties, ahead of Pike and Perry but trailing Piatt and Putnam. The county occupies a middle position in the regional income hierarchy.

Excellent housing affordability

Pope County boasts an exceptional 8.4% rent-to-income ratio—the lowest among all eight counties surveyed—indicating very affordable rental housing. The median home value of $165,300 provides strong purchasing power relative to household earnings.

Affordability creates financial headroom

Pope County's low housing costs free up household dollars for savings and investment, a significant advantage for long-term wealth building. Residents can leverage this affordability edge by prioritizing retirement accounts and diversified investments.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Pope County

via HealthByCounty

Pope County life expectancy slightly below U.S.

Pope County residents live to 75.7 years on average, about 5.4 years below the U.S. average of 81.1 years. With 18% reporting poor or fair health, the county mirrors the national average and suggests moderate health challenges.

Slightly below Illinois average life expectancy

Pope County's 75.7-year life expectancy trails Illinois's 76.0-year state average, though by a narrow margin. The 18% poor/fair health rate sits near the state median, placing Pope County in the middle tier of Illinois counties.

Mid-range health in the region

Pope County's 75.7-year life expectancy sits between Pike County (74.6 years) and Perry County (75.4 years), and below Piatt County (78.4 years). Its 18% poor/fair health rate is comparable to nearby counties, indicating consistent regional health patterns.

Good coverage, limited primary care data

Pope County's 5.2% uninsured rate beats the state average of 6.3%, ensuring most residents have health insurance. While mental health providers are available at 54 per 100,000, primary care provider data is limited; residents may face longer wait times or travel for some services.

Strengthen your health coverage

Pope County's strong insurance rate reflects a community that prioritizes coverage; if you're among the 5% uninsured, visit healthcare.gov to enroll. Steady insurance access helps residents access preventive care and manage chronic conditions effectively.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Pope County

via RiskByCounty

Pope County is Illinois's lowest-risk county

Pope County's composite risk score of 14.89 is among the absolute lowest in the United States and 73% below Illinois's statewide average of 54.46, earning the "Very Low" designation. This exceptional safety from natural disasters places Pope County among America's most protected communities.

Pope ranks as Illinois's safest county

Pope County's 14.89 score is the lowest in Illinois, ranking it at the very bottom of disaster risk across the state's 102 counties. This standout position reflects Pope's distance from major seismic zones, low tornado frequency, and minimal flood and wildfire exposure.

Pope leads its region in safety margins

Pope County's 14.89 score is substantially lower than its neighbors, including Pulaski County (49.05) and Richland County (46.66), making it a distinctly safer jurisdiction in southern Illinois. Only Putnam County (9.16) scores lower across the entire region.

Even Pope's top risks are minimal

Pope County's highest individual risk is earthquake at 82.12, though this remains well below state-leading counties; tornado risk sits at 29.68 and flood risk at 17.24, both minimal. The county's overall hazard environment is exceptionally benign compared to national and state norms.

Minimal coverage needs match minimal risks

Pope County homeowners typically can rely on basic homeowners insurance without specialized earthquake or flood riders, given the county's exceptional safety profile. A standard policy with wind/hail coverage is usually sufficient to address Pope County's negligible natural disaster exposure.

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.