Effingham County, Illinois: commercial real estate data.
Effingham County, Illinois had an estimated 34,602 residents on July 1, 2024, down 0.2 percent since the 2020 census base of 34,679, across 479 square miles. County output reached $3.08 bn in 2024, 1,263 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 23 7(a) approvals worth $21.5 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Effingham County
How many people live in Effingham County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202434,522
- Households13,951
- Average household size2.47
- Median household income$80,404
- Median age40.0
- Median gross rent$733 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$189,500
- Home value to household income2.4 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income10.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher26.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree8.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over23,843
- Population under 188,265
- Share under 1823.9 percent
- Population 65 and over6,501
- Share 65 and over18.8 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6419,756
- Civilian labor force17,850
- Unemployment rate2.1 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over68.0 percent
- Rank by population among Illinois counties41st of 102
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1351st of 3,222
Effingham County is the 41st largest of 102 Illinois counties by population. A median home costs 2.4 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 23.9 percent against 18.8 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Effingham County
Is Effingham County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202434,602
- Census 2020 base population34,679
- Population change since the 2020 census base-0.22 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024149
- Births, 2024423
- Deaths, 2024357
- Natural change, 202466
- Net domestic migration, 20248
- Net international migration, 202477
- Total net migration, 202485
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-369
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1917th of 3,144
The county has lost 0.22 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Effingham County
Where are people moving to Effingham County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving679
- People arriving, from those returns1,111
- Tax returns filed by households leaving693
- Net household movement-14
- Adjusted gross income arriving$39.5 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-697,000
- Average income of an arriving household$58,125
- Average income of a leaving household$57,957
- Largest single originColes County (58 households)
- Largest single destinationFayette County (73 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coles County | 58 | 94 | $2.3 m |
| Shelby County | 56 | 99 | $2.3 m |
| Fayette County | 52 | 83 | $1.9 m |
| Jasper County | 43 | 69 | $1.7 m |
| Cumberland County | 38 | 63 | $1.6 m |
| Clay County | 28 | 53 | $1.2 m |
Households arriving report $168 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Coles County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Effingham County
What is the Effingham County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$3.08 bn
- County GDP, 2023$2.91 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20245.9 percent
- GDP change over five years40.5 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Illinois areas BEA publishes28th of 102
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes960th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$89,340
Output grew 5.9 percent in the latest year and 40.5 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Effingham County
Employment by industry in Effingham County
- Covered employment, annual average23,242
- Establishments reporting1,237
- Average annual pay$53,064
- Average weekly wage$1,020
- Health care and social assistance, employment3,776
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$60,053
- Accommodation and food services, employment2,993
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$20,955
- Manufacturing, employment2,957
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$59,728
- Retail trade, employment2,957
- Retail trade, average annual pay$31,474
- Construction, employment1,323
- Wholesale trade, employment1,298
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 3,776 | 127 | $60,053 |
| Accommodation and food services | 2,993 | 116 | $20,955 |
| Manufacturing | 2,957 | 61 | $59,728 |
| Retail trade | 2,957 | 172 | $31,474 |
| Construction | 1,323 | 150 | $68,200 |
| Wholesale trade | 1,298 | 53 | $69,128 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 1,268 | 55 | $65,045 |
| Other services, except public administration | 954 | 125 | $45,853 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 3,776 jobs, 16.2 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Effingham County
How many businesses are in Effingham County?
- Establishments, all industries1,263
- Employment at those establishments32,183
- Annual payroll$1.64 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents36.6
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Effingham County
Building permits in Effingham County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202430
- Declared construction value permitted$10.8 m
- Single family units authorized30
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$361,483
- Units authorized per 1,000 households2.2
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Effingham County
SBA loans in Effingham County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded23
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$21.5 m
- Average 7(a) approval$934,170
- Median 7(a) approval$414,000
- 10th percentile approval$114,540
- 90th percentile approval$2,400,000
- Largest single approval$2,780,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)277
- Jobs per approval12.0
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active15
- Distinct industries receiving approvals13
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer34.8 percent
- Loans on real estate terms8
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter13
- Franchise loans7
- Franchise share of approvals30.4 percent
- Leading industry by approval countGeneral Freight Trucking, Local (6)
- Most active lenderPeoples Bank & Trust (6)
- 504 approvals recorded11
- 504 gross approval dollars$12.1 m
- Average 504 approval$1,103,364
- Median 504 approval$940,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval37.7
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved34.2
- Most active CDCSmall Business Growth Corporation (7)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$33.6 m
The average approval of $934,170 sits well above the median of $414,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. 34.8 percent of approvals run on real estate terms of 240 months or more, so this is a market where SBA credit is buying buildings, not just funding operations.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Effingham County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Effingham County
Do SBA loans in Effingham County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded3
- Paid in full3
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure19
- Status: Paid in full3
- Status: Cancelled1
Only 3 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Effingham County
SBA lending by place in Effingham County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending5
- Effingham, approvals13
- Altamont, approvals5
- Dieterich, approvals2
- Teutopolis, approvals2
- Mason, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Effingham | 13 | $12,995,900 |
| Altamont | 5 | $4,733,000 |
| Dieterich | 2 | $2,742,000 |
| Teutopolis | 2 | $905,000 |
| Mason | 1 | $110,000 |
Effingham accounts for 13 approvals against 5 in Altamont. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Effingham County
How large is Effingham County?
- Land area479 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Illinois counties57th of 102
- Width, east to west24 mi
- Height, north to south21.1 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land72
- Establishments per square mile2.64
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Effingham County
Flood risk in Effingham County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Effingham County, unincorporated areasNot participating, community 170227
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book10
- Of those, participating in the NFIP5
- NFIP participation rate50.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Effingham County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Effingham County (community 170227), does not participate in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Effingham County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 50.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Effingham County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Effingham County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202434,522
- Households13,951
- Average household size2.47
- Median household income$80,404
- Median age40.0
Common questions
Effingham County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Effingham County, Illinois?
The Census Bureau estimates 34,602 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 34,522, in 13,951 households, ranking 41st of 102 Illinois counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Effingham County's population growing?
The population has fallen 0.22 percent since the 2020 census base of 34,679, to 34,602 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 423 births against 357 deaths, with net migration of 85. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Effingham County?
$80,404. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $189,500, which is 2.4 times income, and median gross rent is $733 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Effingham County?
1,263 establishments, employing 32,183 people with an annual payroll of $1.64 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Effingham County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 3,776 jobs, 16.2 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 23,242 jobs at an average annual pay of $53,064, or $1,020 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Effingham County?
23 7(a) approvals totaling $21.5 m since FY2020, across 15 lenders, with a median approval of $414,000, plus 11 504 approvals worth $12.1 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Effingham County?
30 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $10.8 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Effingham County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Effingham County come from?
The largest single origin is Coles County, with 58 households. Arriving households report an average income of $58,125 against $57,957 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Effingham County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Effingham County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Effingham County
Cities and places in Effingham.
10 Census places lie wholly or partly in Effingham County. All 10 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Effingham | city | 12,342 | 13 | Wholly in this county |
| Altamont | city | 2,282 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Teutopolis | village | 1,729 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Dieterich | village | 1,169 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Watson | village | 620 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Mason | town | 467 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Beecher City | village | 414 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Edgewood | village | 351 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Shumway | village | 260 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Montrose | village | 255 | None recorded | 82.2 percent here, 17.8 percent Cumberland County |
Nearby