CountyScore

Richland County

Illinois · IL

#29 in Illinois
67.3
County Score

County Report Card

About Richland County, Illinois

Richland County Outperforms National Median

Richland County's composite score of 67.3 exceeds the national median of 50.0 by 35%, situating it solidly in the upper third of American counties. The county delivers measurably better livability than the typical U.S. community.

Above-Average Illinois Performer

Richland County scores 67.3, surpassing Illinois's state average of 62.1 by more than 5 points. The county ranks among the state's stronger livability communities overall.

Solid Affordability and Moderate Taxes

Richland County's cost score of 84.3 delivers median home values of $106,600 and rents at $754 monthly, creating strong affordability. Its tax score of 59.6 reflects an effective rate of 1.518%, offering reasonable civic burden.

Income Remains Below-Average

Richland's income score of 22.8 and median household income of $60,404 suggest limited wage growth potential. We're still compiling data on schools, health, safety, and environmental factors.

Appeals to Budget-Conscious Homebuyers

Richland County suits families and individuals prioritizing affordable housing and modest taxes over higher wages or urban convenience. The county offers genuine value for those optimizing budget and lifestyle stability.

Score breakdown

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

Tax59.6Cost84.3SafetyComing SoonHealth71.9SchoolsComing SoonIncome22.8Risk53.4WaterComing Soon
🏛59.6
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠84.3
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼22.8
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤71.9
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡53.4
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 Richland County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Tuscaloosa County
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Median income: $63,947
Miller County
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Median income: $49,983
Inyo County
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67.3
Median income: $72,432
Cook County
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67.3
Median income: $50,133
Toombs County
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Median income: $54,130

Deep Dives

Richland County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Richland County

via TaxByCounty

Richland County: Below national tax median

At 1.52%, Richland County's effective tax rate sits well below the national median of 2.10%, placing it in the lower third of U.S. counties by tax burden. The median property tax of $1,618 is 40% below the national median of $2,690, reflecting both modest home values and a reasonable tax rate.

Richland below Illinois average

Richland County's 1.52% effective rate is 17% lower than the Illinois state average of 1.83%, positioning it in the lower-middle tier statewide. Its median property tax of $1,618 is 42% below the state average of $2,782, delivering solid savings for homeowners.

Richland ranks with most affordable peers

Richland County's 1.52% rate is competitive regionally, beating Piatt County (1.76%), Perry County (1.66%), and Putnam County (1.59%). It ranks just behind Pike County (1.56%), offering one of the better tax values in the area.

What a Richland County homeowner pays

On the median home value of $106,600, Richland County's 1.52% effective rate translates to approximately $1,618 in annual property taxes. With a mortgage, expect $2,148; without one, closer to $1,288—significantly below national norms.

Appeal if assessment seems too high

Many Illinois homeowners in Richland County are assessed at values above their homes' actual market worth, leading to overpayment of taxes. Filing a property tax appeal could reduce your annual bill if your assessment is out of line with recent sales data.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Richland County

via CostByCounty

Richland County tests affordability limits

Richland County's 15.0% rent-to-income ratio exceeds the state average of 14.7%, creating slightly elevated housing burden for its residents. With a median household income of $60,404—below the national average—and rent of $754, affordability is tight but manageable.

Richland slightly above state average

Richland County's 15.0% rent-to-income ratio ranks slightly above Illinois's state average, placing it among the less affordable counties in this comparison. The county's $754 median rent contributes to this burden despite moderate housing costs.

Richland pricier than most peers

Richland County's $754 median rent exceeds Pike ($659) and Putnam ($804) is surprisingly similar, but Richland residents earn less than Putnam, creating greater affordability stress. At $698, homeowner costs are moderate, but the rental burden remains the regional challenge.

Renters face the greatest pressure

Richland County renters pay $754 monthly while homeowners pay $698 for the $106,600 median home, placing heavier burden on renters. Housing consumes 15% of the $60,404 median household income—above the comfort zone and leaving less flexibility for other needs.

Richland for committed relocators

Richland County offers moderate housing costs but requires household incomes above $60,000 to avoid affordability strain. Renters should carefully budget before relocating; homebuyers may find better value in neighboring counties.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Richland County

via IncomeByCounty

Richland County lags national earnings

Richland County's median household income of $60,404 falls 19% short of the U.S. median of $74,755, reflecting rural economic constraints. This gap places Richland in the lower-income tier nationally.

Below Illinois state median

Richland County earns $8,176 less than the Illinois state median of $68,580, placing it among the state's lower-income counties. Per capita income of $32,156 also trails the state average of $36,009 by roughly 11%.

Richland ranks near the lower end

Richland County's $60,404 places it sixth among the eight surveyed counties, above only Pike and Pulaski. Perry County's $59,286 represents the only nearby lower income in this cohort.

Housing costs press household budgets

Richland County's 15.0% rent-to-income ratio sits exactly at the affordability caution threshold, signaling that renters spend a substantial portion of earnings on housing. The median home value of $106,600 remains reasonable but leaves limited margin for other expenses.

Building savings amid tight budgets

Richland County households can strengthen financial security through modest but consistent savings habits and low-cost investment options. Even small contributions to retirement accounts compound meaningfully, creating a foundation for long-term economic stability.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Richland County

via HealthByCounty

Richland County well below U.S. life expectancy

Richland County's life expectancy of 73.7 years is among the lowest in the nation, trailing the U.S. average of 81.1 years by 7.4 years. With 16.7% reporting poor or fair health, the county faces severe population health challenges.

Among Illinois's lowest life expectancies

Richland County's 73.7-year life expectancy ranks among Illinois's worst, falling 2.3 years below the state average of 76.0 years. The 16.7% poor/fair health rate indicates significant chronic disease burden, placing Richland among the state's most health-challenged counties.

Worse outcomes than regional peers

Richland County's 73.7-year life expectancy is second-lowest in the region, exceeding only Pulaski County (71.6 years) but trailing all other neighbors. Its 16.7% poor/fair health rate sits between Pike County and Pulaski, marking Richland as a regional health concern.

Adequate coverage, strong mental health access

Richland County's 6.5% uninsured rate is slightly above the state average of 6.3%, yet most residents have coverage. The county offers 57 primary care providers and an exceptional 523 mental health providers per 100,000—the highest in the region—signaling significant mental health challenges.

Secure coverage and mental health support

Richland County's poor health outcomes and robust mental health infrastructure suggest residents face significant behavioral and physical health challenges. If you're uninsured, visit healthcare.gov to enroll; combined with local mental health services, insurance opens doors to comprehensive care that can turn health trajectories around.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Richland County

via RiskByCounty

Richland County slightly exceeds national risk

Richland County's composite risk score of 46.66 is modestly above the national average and 14% below Illinois's statewide average of 54.46, earning a "Relatively Low" rating. This positions Richland as a moderately hazard-exposed county with meaningful but not exceptional disaster risk.

Richland ranks in Illinois's middle tier

Richland County's score of 46.66 places it in the midrange of Illinois's 102 counties for disaster risk, performing slightly better than the state average. The county's balanced hazard profile reflects moderate exposure to multiple natural disaster types without extreme concentration in any single category.

Richland balances regional risk patterns

At 46.66, Richland County scores lower than its higher-risk neighbors Perry County (72.07) and Randolph County (78.63), but higher than the lower-risk Pike County (30.34) cluster. This middle position makes Richland representative of south-central Illinois's typical hazard exposure.

Tornadoes, earthquakes, and floods matter most

Richland County's primary risks are tornado exposure at 52.42, earthquake risk at 89.57, and flood risk at 41.25, reflecting the county's position in both a seismically active region and Tornado Alley's periphery. These three hazards warrant focused attention in household emergency planning.

Balance earthquake and flood coverage

Richland County homeowners should secure standalone earthquake insurance to address the county's substantial seismic risk of 89.57, and verify wind/hail protection for tornado exposure. Evaluate flood insurance based on property location, as the county's 41.25 flood risk suggests some neighborhoods face meaningful inundation 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.