Jersey County, Illinois: commercial real estate data.
Jersey County, Illinois had an estimated 21,150 residents on July 1, 2024, down 1.7 percent since the 2020 census base of 21,513, across 369 square miles. County output reached $672.9 m in 2024, 404 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 15 7(a) approvals worth $3.2 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Jersey County
How many people live in Jersey County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202421,274
- Households7,965
- Average household size2.67
- Median household income$80,361
- Median age43.7
- Median gross rent$846 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$171,900
- Home value to household income2.1 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income12.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher22.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree7.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over14,966
- Population under 184,207
- Share under 1819.8 percent
- Population 65 and over4,391
- Share 65 and over20.6 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6412,676
- Civilian labor force10,707
- Unemployment rate3.4 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over62.7 percent
- Rank by population among Illinois counties55th of 102
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1808th of 3,222
Jersey County is the 55th largest of 102 Illinois counties by population. A median home costs 2.1 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 20.6 percent against 19.8 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Jersey County
Is Jersey County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202421,150
- Census 2020 base population21,513
- Population change since the 2020 census base-1.69 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-8
- Births, 2024155
- Deaths, 2024286
- Natural change, 2024-131
- Net domestic migration, 202485
- Net international migration, 202438
- Total net migration, 2024123
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 202480
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2414th of 3,144
The county has lost 1.69 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 by more than net migration added, so the population fell even though more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Jersey County
Where are people moving to Jersey County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving489
- People arriving, from those returns875
- Tax returns filed by households leaving537
- Net household movement-48
- Adjusted gross income arriving$30.0 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$1.1 m
- Average income of an arriving household$61,290
- Average income of a leaving household$53,721
- Largest single originMadison County (193 households)
- Largest single destinationMadison County (210 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison County | 193 | 338 | $12.2 m |
| Macoupin County | 63 | 123 | $3.5 m |
| Greene County | 43 | 74 | $2.1 m |
Households arriving report $7,569 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 Madison 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.
Jersey County
What is the Jersey County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$672.9 m
- County GDP, 2023$665.3 m
- GDP change, 2023 to 20241.2 percent
- GDP change over five years28.3 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Illinois areas BEA publishes78th of 102
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes2182nd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$31,632
Output grew 1.2 percent in the latest year and 28.3 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.
Jersey County
Employment by industry in Jersey County
- Covered employment, annual average5,218
- Establishments reporting389
- Average annual pay$45,258
- Average weekly wage$870
- Retail trade, employment786
- Retail trade, average annual pay$32,735
- Accommodation and food services, employment627
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$22,190
- Construction, employment393
- Construction, average annual pay$60,745
- Manufacturing, employment322
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$58,710
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment216
- Finance and insurance, employment158
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 786 | 47 | $32,735 |
| Accommodation and food services | 627 | 51 | $22,190 |
| Construction | 393 | 51 | $60,745 |
| Manufacturing | 322 | 22 | $58,710 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 216 | 24 | $75,397 |
| Finance and insurance | 158 | 19 | $65,315 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 149 | 7 | $14,175 |
| Wholesale trade | 106 | 12 | $54,116 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 786 jobs, 15.1 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Jersey County
How many businesses are in Jersey County?
- Establishments, all industries404
- Employment at those establishments4,403
- Annual payroll$186.0 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents19.0
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.
Jersey County
Building permits in Jersey County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024101
- Declared construction value permitted$19.7 m
- Single family units authorized33
- Multifamily units authorized68
- Multifamily share of units67.3 percent
- Average declared value per unit$195,106
- Units authorized per 1,000 households12.7
Multifamily is 67.3 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Jersey County
SBA loans in Jersey County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded15
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$3.2 m
- Average 7(a) approval$215,847
- Median 7(a) approval$150,000
- Largest single approval$1,002,500
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)141
- Jobs per approval9.4
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active11
- Distinct industries receiving approvals9
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer13.3 percent
- Loans on real estate terms2
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter12
- Franchise loans1
- Franchise share of approvals6.7 percent
- Leading industry by approval countLandscaping Services (3)
- 504 approvals recorded3
- 504 gross approval dollars$2.8 m
- Average 504 approval$945,000
- Median 504 approval$927,000
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval2.3
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved2.5
- Most active CDCSmall Business Growth Corporation (3)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$6.1 m
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.
Jersey County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Jersey County
Do SBA loans in Jersey County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded1
- Paid in full1
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full1
- Status: Exempt from disclosure13
- Status: Cancelled1
Only 1 loan has 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.
Jersey County
SBA lending by place in Jersey County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending3
- Jerseyville, approvals10
- Grafton, approvals4
- Brighton, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Jerseyville | 10 | $1,760,200 |
| Grafton | 4 | $1,327,500 |
| Brighton | 1 | $150,000 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Jersey County
How large is Jersey County?
- Land area369 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Illinois counties82nd of 102
- Width, east to west24.6 mi
- Height, north to south23.2 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land58
- Establishments per square mile1.09
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.
Jersey County
Flood risk in Jersey County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Jersey County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 170312
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 5
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book5
- Of those, participating in the NFIP5
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 5
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Jersey County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Jersey County (community 170312), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 5, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Jersey County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 5, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 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 Jersey 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 Jersey County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202421,274
- Households7,965
- Average household size2.67
- Median household income$80,361
- Median age43.7
Common questions
Jersey County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Jersey County, Illinois?
The Census Bureau estimates 21,150 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 21,274, in 7,965 households, ranking 55th of 102 Illinois counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Jersey County's population growing?
The population has fallen 1.69 percent since the 2020 census base of 21,513, to 21,150 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 155 births against 286 deaths, with net migration of 123. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Jersey County?
$80,361. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $171,900, which is 2.1 times income, and median gross rent is $846 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Jersey County?
404 establishments, employing 4,403 people with an annual payroll of $186.0 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Jersey County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 786 jobs, 15.1 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 5,218 jobs at an average annual pay of $45,258, or $870 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Jersey County?
15 7(a) approvals totaling $3.2 m since FY2020, across 11 lenders, with a median approval of $150,000, plus 3 504 approvals worth $2.8 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Jersey County?
101 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $19.7 m. Multifamily was 67.3 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Jersey County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 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 Jersey County come from?
The largest single origin is Madison County, with 193 households. Arriving households report an average income of $61,290 against $53,721 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Jersey 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 Jersey 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.
Jersey County
Cities and places in Jersey.
7 Census places lie wholly or partly in Jersey County. All 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jerseyville | city | 7,445 | 10 | Wholly in this county |
| Brighton | village | 2,306 | 1 | 30.6 percent here, 69.4 percent Macoupin County |
| Grafton | city | 734 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Elsah | village | 708 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Fieldon | village | 200 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Otterville | town | 126 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Fidelity | village | 71 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
Nearby