Jefferson County, Illinois: commercial real estate data.
Jefferson County, Illinois had an estimated 36,107 residents on July 1, 2024, down 2.7 percent since the 2020 census base of 37,113, across 571 square miles. County output reached $2.43 bn in 2024, 882 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 63 7(a) approvals worth $47.2 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Jefferson County
How many people live in Jefferson County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202436,550
- Households14,820
- Average household size2.47
- Median household income$63,118
- Median age41.2
- Median gross rent$885 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$126,000
- Home value to household income2.0 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income16.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher18.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree6.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over25,775
- Population under 188,140
- Share under 1822.3 percent
- Population 65 and over7,298
- Share 65 and over20.0 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6421,112
- Civilian labor force17,342
- Unemployment rate5.8 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over61.0 percent
- Rank by population among Illinois counties38th of 102
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1304th of 3,222
Jefferson County is the 38th largest of 102 Illinois counties by population. A median home costs 2.0 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 22.3 percent against 20.0 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Jefferson County
Is Jefferson County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202436,107
- Census 2020 base population37,113
- Population change since the 2020 census base-2.71 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-224
- Births, 2024378
- Deaths, 2024501
- Natural change, 2024-123
- Net domestic migration, 2024-132
- Net international migration, 202433
- Total net migration, 2024-99
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-482
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2679th of 3,144
The county has lost 2.71 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. The population fell in 2024 from both sources: deaths exceeded births and more people left than moved in.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Jefferson County
Where are people moving to Jefferson County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving679
- People arriving, from those returns1,220
- Tax returns filed by households leaving774
- Net household movement-95
- Adjusted gross income arriving$27.8 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-7.6 m
- Average income of an arriving household$40,873
- Average income of a leaving household$45,727
- Largest single originMarion County (88 households)
- Largest single destinationFranklin County (74 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marion County | 88 | 170 | $2.7 m |
| Franklin County | 56 | 102 | $1.9 m |
| Wayne County | 35 | 67 | $1.7 m |
| Hamilton County | 29 | 54 | $998,000 |
| Washington County | 27 | 54 | $1.4 m |
| Williamson County | 26 | 44 | $974,000 |
| St. Clair County | 25 | 37 | $896,000 |
Households arriving report $4,854 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Marion 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.
Jefferson County
What is the Jefferson County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$2.43 bn
- County GDP, 2023$2.35 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20243.6 percent
- GDP change over five years30.3 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Illinois areas BEA publishes33rd of 102
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1120th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$66,594
Output grew 3.6 percent in the latest year and 30.3 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.
Jefferson County
Employment by industry in Jefferson County
- Covered employment, annual average19,307
- Establishments reporting858
- Average annual pay$57,833
- Average weekly wage$1,112
- Manufacturing, employment4,534
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$74,045
- Health care and social assistance, employment3,819
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$63,400
- Retail trade, employment2,339
- Retail trade, average annual pay$35,305
- Transportation and warehousing, employment1,440
- Transportation and warehousing, average annual pay$49,931
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,398
- Wholesale trade, employment723
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 4,534 | 32 | $74,045 |
| Health care and social assistance | 3,819 | 103 | $63,400 |
| Retail trade | 2,339 | 139 | $35,305 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 1,440 | 33 | $49,931 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,398 | 83 | $24,615 |
| Wholesale trade | 723 | 56 | $65,635 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 483 | 53 | $78,645 |
| Finance and insurance | 459 | 48 | $87,619 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 4,534 jobs, 23.5 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Jefferson County
How many businesses are in Jefferson County?
- Establishments, all industries882
- Employment at those establishments19,260
- Annual payroll$1.01 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents24.1
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.
Jefferson County
Building permits in Jefferson County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20246
- Declared construction value permitted$3.4 m
- Single family units authorized6
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$558,333
- Units authorized per 1,000 households0.4
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.
Jefferson County
SBA loans in Jefferson County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded63
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$47.2 m
- Average 7(a) approval$749,065
- Median 7(a) approval$200,000
- 10th percentile approval$32,000
- 90th percentile approval$2,790,400
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)798
- Jobs per approval12.7
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active9
- Distinct industries receiving approvals40
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer30.2 percent
- Loans on real estate terms19
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter34
- Franchise loans7
- Franchise share of approvals11.1 percent
- Leading industry by approval countHotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (7)
- Most active lenderCommunity First Bank of the Heartland (38)
- 504 approvals recorded9
- 504 gross approval dollars$6.0 m
- Average 504 approval$670,556
- Median 504 approval$554,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval34.2
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved51.0
- Most active CDCSmall Business Growth Corporation (7)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$53.2 m
The average approval of $749,065 sits well above the median of $200,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. 30.2 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.
Jefferson County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Jefferson County
Do SBA loans in Jefferson County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded20
- Paid in full18
- Charged off2
- Status: Exempt from disclosure40
- Status: Paid in full18
- Status: Charged off2
- Status: Cancelled1
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed2
Only 20 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.
Jefferson County
SBA lending by place in Jefferson County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending7
- Mount Vernon, approvals51
- Woodlawn, approvals5
- Bonnie, approvals3
- Scheller, approvals1
- Bluford, approvals1
- Waltonville, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Vernon | 51 | $46,129,500 |
| Woodlawn | 5 | $284,100 |
| Bonnie | 3 | $130,000 |
| Scheller | 1 | $315,000 |
| Bluford | 1 | $230,000 |
| Waltonville | 1 | $82,500 |
| Dix | 1 | $20,000 |
Mount Vernon accounts for 51 approvals against 5 in Woodlawn. 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.
Jefferson County
How large is Jefferson County?
- Land area571 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Illinois counties41st of 102
- Width, east to west24.5 mi
- Height, north to south24.2 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land64
- Establishments per square mile1.54
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.
Jefferson County
Flood risk in Jefferson County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Jefferson County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 170305
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book8
- Of those, participating in the NFIP5
- NFIP participation rate62.5 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County (community 170305), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Jefferson 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. 62.5 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202436,550
- Households14,820
- Average household size2.47
- Median household income$63,118
- Median age41.2
Common questions
Jefferson County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Jefferson County, Illinois?
The Census Bureau estimates 36,107 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 36,550, in 14,820 households, ranking 38th of 102 Illinois counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Jefferson County's population growing?
The population has fallen 2.71 percent since the 2020 census base of 37,113, to 36,107 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 378 births against 501 deaths, with net migration of -99. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Jefferson County?
$63,118. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $126,000, which is 2.0 times income, and median gross rent is $885 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Jefferson County?
882 establishments, employing 19,260 people with an annual payroll of $1.01 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 Jefferson County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 4,534 jobs, 23.5 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 19,307 jobs at an average annual pay of $57,833, or $1,112 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Jefferson County?
63 7(a) approvals totaling $47.2 m since FY2020, across 9 lenders, with a median approval of $200,000, plus 9 504 approvals worth $6.0 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Jefferson County?
6 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $3.4 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Jefferson 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 Jefferson County come from?
The largest single origin is Marion County, with 88 households. Arriving households report an average income of $40,873 against $45,727 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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.
Jefferson County
Cities and places in Jefferson.
10 Census places lie wholly or partly in Jefferson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Vernon | city | 14,090 | 51 | Wholly in this county |
| Ina | village | 1,560 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Woodlawn | village | 632 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Dix | village | 568 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Bluford | village | 483 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Bonnie | village | 461 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Belle Rive | village | 382 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Waltonville | village | 294 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Opdyke | CDP | 246 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Nason | city | 203 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 1 of the county's 63 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Jefferson County, the largest being Scheller (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby