CountyScore

St. Clair County

Illinois · IL

#92 in Illinois
55.9
County Score

County Report Card

About St. Clair County, Illinois

Moderate National Performance

St. Clair County scores 56.0 on the composite index, placing it 12% above the national median of 50.0 but below Illinois's state average of 62.1 by 6.1 points. It represents solid but not exceptional national standing.

Below Illinois Average

St. Clair ranks in the middle-to-lower tier of Illinois counties with its 56.0 score, trailing the state average and underperforming relative to stronger Illinois regions.

Decent Income Amid Affordability

St. Clair County offers median household income of $70,178 with a cost score of 72.1, providing reasonable earning potential and moderate housing values at $168,800. Income score of 29.2 is respectable within this cohort.

Highest Tax Burden Weighs Down

The county's tax score of 43.4 is among the lowest here, with an effective rate of 2.093%—the highest in this group—creating a significant financial headwind. Rental costs at $1,032 monthly are also above average, and critical data on safety, health, and schools is unavailable.

For Those Accepting Trade-offs

St. Clair County suits individuals and families willing to accept higher taxes and rental costs in exchange for decent income opportunities and moderate home values. It's a practical choice for those with established paychecks able to absorb the tax load.

Score breakdown

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

Tax43.4Cost72.1SafetyComing SoonHealth72.6SchoolsComing SoonIncome29.2Risk5.1WaterComing Soon
🏛43.4
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠72.1
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼29.2
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤72.6
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡5.1
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 St. Clair County with another county →

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Peoria County
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Deep Dives

St. Clair County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in St. Clair County

via TaxByCounty

St. Clair taxes exceed national average

At 2.09%, St. Clair County's effective tax rate surpasses the national median of 2.05%, placing it in roughly the 55th percentile nationally. The median property tax of $3,533 is 31% above the national median of $2,690, making St. Clair one of the nation's higher-taxing counties relative to home values.

St. Clair ranks among state's highest taxes

At 2.09%, St. Clair's effective rate exceeds Illinois' state average of 1.83% by 26 basis points, placing it in the upper tier statewide. The $3,533 median tax is among the highest county-level burdens in Illinois.

St. Clair significantly higher than region

At 2.09%, St. Clair's rate substantially exceeds neighboring Rock Island (2.33% is higher, but St. Clair outpaces most others like Sangamon at 1.98%). The $3,533 median tax represents the heaviest burden among its peer counties in the region.

Budget approximately $3,533 annually

On the median home valued at $168,800, St. Clair County homeowners typically pay $3,533 per year in property taxes. When mortgage escrow reserves are included, the median rises to $4,082.

High-tax homeowners should appeal

In a high-tax county like St. Clair, overassessments hit harder on household budgets—many residents never discover their assessments exceed fair market value. Filing an appeal is straightforward and could reduce your tax burden by hundreds annually.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in St. Clair County

via CostByCounty

St. Clair's housing costs pinch household budgets

St. Clair County's rent-to-income ratio of 17.6% is the highest in this region and well above the national average, signaling tight affordability for residents. With median income of $70,178 and rents of $1,032, St. Clair households spend more on rent relative to earnings than national norms.

Among Illinois's least affordable counties

St. Clair County ranks among Illinois's least affordable markets, with a 17.6% rent-to-income ratio significantly exceeding the state average of 14.7%. This gap reflects regional economic pressures, particularly around the Belleville-Collinsville area.

Priciest rents in the region

St. Clair's $1,032 monthly rent is the highest among all comparable counties, exceeding Sangamon by $78 and nearly double Saline's rate. Home values of $168,800 similarly rank high, indicating tight affordability across the board.

17.6% of income goes to rent

Renters spend $1,032 monthly while homeowners pay $1,154, consuming 17.6% and 19.7% of the median $70,178 household income respectively. These percentages are significantly above healthy affordability thresholds, straining household budgets.

St. Clair: only if earnings match costs

Considering St. Clair County? Its $1,032 rent and 17.6% rent-to-income ratio demand higher earnings than regional peers. Compare your expected salary against these costs carefully—affordability improves only with above-average incomes.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in St. Clair County

via IncomeByCounty

St. Clair Slightly Below National Average

St. Clair County's median household income of $70,178 trails the national median of $74,755 by 6.1%, or about $4,577 annually. The county sits in the middle range relative to national standards, reflecting a moderately performing local economy.

Above Illinois State Average

At $70,178, St. Clair County surpasses Illinois's state average of $68,580 by $1,598 annually, ranking in the upper-middle tier of profiled counties. The county's per capita income of $37,824 is among the highest, indicating strong individual earning capacity.

Solid Performance in Southern Illinois

St. Clair's $70,178 median income places it above most profiled counties, trailing only Sangamon and Scott. The county's regional strength likely reflects proximity to the St. Louis metropolitan area and associated employment opportunities.

Housing Affordability Challenged

St. Clair County's 17.6% rent-to-income ratio is the highest among profiled counties, signaling housing costs consume a larger share of household budgets. With a median home value of $168,800, affordability requires careful planning despite decent median incomes.

Navigate Housing Costs to Build Wealth

St. Clair residents earning the median $70,178 should prioritize strategic housing decisions to free up capital for investing and saving. By carefully managing the higher rent-to-income burden, families can still build meaningful long-term wealth and financial security.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in St. Clair County

via HealthByCounty

St. Clair Trails National Health Benchmarks

St. Clair County's 74.1-year life expectancy lags the U.S. average of 76.1 years by 2 years, among the lowest in this group. A 17.6% poor or fair health rate reflects meaningful population health challenges.

Bottom Tier of Illinois County Health Rankings

St. Clair County's 74.1-year life expectancy trails Illinois's state average of 76.0 years significantly. At 5.3% uninsured—slightly below the state average—coverage gaps don't fully explain the county's health disadvantage.

Weakest Health Outcomes in Regional Context

St. Clair County's 74.1-year life expectancy ranks last among this group, falling well below Shelby (77.1 years), Sangamon (76.8 years), and Rock Island (76.4 years). With 59 primary care providers per 100K, the county has moderate physician access, but underlying health conditions drive poor outcomes.

Structural Health Barriers Beyond Insurance

At 5.3% uninsured, St. Clair County has coverage rates similar to state averages, yet the county's 74.1-year life expectancy remains the lowest in this group. With 59 primary care providers per 100K and 189 mental health providers per 100K, the county has adequate care infrastructure, but social determinants and health behaviors appear to be driving poor outcomes.

Get Covered and Engage in Prevention

With 5.3% of St. Clair residents uninsured, ensure your family has coverage through healthcare.gov or Illinois Medicaid. Use your insurance to access preventive care and address chronic conditions early—these steps are critical to improving the county's health trajectory.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in St. Clair County

via RiskByCounty

St. Clair faces highest state risk

St. Clair County scores 94.91 on the composite risk scale, earning a Relatively High rating and exceeding Illinois's state average of 54.46 by nearly 75%. This southwestern county faces the most serious natural disaster exposure in Illinois across multiple compounded hazard types.

Riskiest county in Illinois

St. Clair ranks as the highest-risk county in Illinois by composite score at 94.91, surpassing 95% of the state's other counties. The county faces exceptional exposure to tornadoes (95.45), floods (94.50), and earthquakes (98.03)—a dangerous convergence of multiple hazards.

Extreme risk in regional context

St. Clair's 94.91 score exceeds all neighboring counties, with only Sangamon County (91.70) approaching similar risk levels elsewhere in the state. The county sits at the intersection of the Mississippi River floodplain, active earthquake zones, and tornado alley, creating compounding hazard exposure.

Earthquakes, tornadoes, and floods

St. Clair residents face exceptional earthquake risk at 98.03, tornado exposure at 95.45, and severe flood danger at 94.50—all among the state's highest. The combination of riverine flooding potential, seismic activity, and severe convective weather demands comprehensive preparedness across all three major hazard types.

Maximum protection is essential

St. Clair County homeowners must maintain comprehensive flood insurance through the NFIP, earthquake insurance, and robust tornado coverage as non-negotiable essentials. Invest in structural reinforcement including tornado-safe rooms and seismic tie-downs, maintain substantial emergency supplies, and review all insurance policies annually with a local agent familiar with compound-hazard risk.

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.