St. Clair County, Illinois: commercial real estate data.
St. Clair County, Illinois had an estimated 251,149 residents on July 1, 2024, down 2.5 percent since the 2020 census base of 257,631, across 658 square miles. County output reached $16.13 bn in 2024, 4,973 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 190 7(a) approvals worth $84.8 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
St. Clair County
How many people live in St. Clair County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024253,694
- Households100,846
- Average household size2.52
- Median household income$73,854
- Median age39.9
- Median gross rent$1,090 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$180,300
- Home value to household income2.4 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher31.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree13.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over174,645
- Population under 1858,413
- Share under 1823.0 percent
- Population 65 and over44,007
- Share 65 and over17.3 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64151,274
- Civilian labor force124,124
- Unemployment rate6.0 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over63.6 percent
- Rank by population among Illinois counties9th of 102
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included284th of 3,222
St. Clair County is the 9th 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 23.0 percent against 17.3 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
St. Clair County
Is St. Clair County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024251,149
- Census 2020 base population257,631
- Population change since the 2020 census base-2.52 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-945
- Births, 20242,139
- Deaths, 20242,817
- Natural change, 2024-678
- Net domestic migration, 2024-865
- Net international migration, 2024597
- Total net migration, 2024-268
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-5,783
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2638th of 3,144
The county has lost 2.52 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.
St. Clair County
Where are people moving to St. Clair County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving5,977
- People arriving, from those returns11,579
- Tax returns filed by households leaving6,487
- Net household movement-510
- Adjusted gross income arriving$345.5 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-80.9 m
- Average income of an arriving household$57,798
- Average income of a leaving household$65,725
- Largest single originMadison County (1,017 households)
- Largest single destinationMadison County (1,125 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison County | 1,017 | 1,856 | $44.4 m |
| St. Louis County | 567 | 1,013 | $34.6 m |
| St. Louis city | 422 | 709 | $21.3 m |
| Foreign - APO/FPO ZIPs | 176 | 525 | $15.0 m |
| Monroe County | 156 | 258 | $10.8 m |
| Clinton County | 137 | 219 | $6.4 m |
| Randolph County | 96 | 137 | $3.4 m |
| St. Charles County | 91 | 171 | $4.9 m |
Households arriving report $7,927 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. 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.
St. Clair County
What is the St. Clair County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$16.13 bn
- County GDP, 2023$15.80 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20242.1 percent
- GDP change over five years34.4 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Illinois areas BEA publishes10th of 102
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes311th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$63,586
Output grew 2.1 percent in the latest year and 34.4 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.
St. Clair County
Employment by industry in St. Clair County
- Covered employment, annual average89,981
- Establishments reporting4,856
- Average annual pay$57,001
- Average weekly wage$1,096
- Health care and social assistance, employment13,326
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$57,729
- Retail trade, employment11,535
- Retail trade, average annual pay$35,887
- Accommodation and food services, employment9,978
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$24,054
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment5,654
- Professional, scientific and technical services, average annual pay$94,177
- Manufacturing, employment4,961
- Construction, employment4,769
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 13,326 | 574 | $57,729 |
| Retail trade | 11,535 | 681 | $35,887 |
| Accommodation and food services | 9,978 | 490 | $24,054 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 5,654 | 482 | $94,177 |
| Manufacturing | 4,961 | 177 | $69,206 |
| Construction | 4,769 | 462 | $74,915 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 4,765 | 163 | $64,413 |
| Other services, except public administration | 3,556 | 506 | $36,940 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 13,326 jobs, 14.8 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
St. Clair County
How many businesses are in St. Clair County?
- Establishments, all industries4,973
- Employment at those establishments72,871
- Annual payroll$3.65 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents19.6
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.
St. Clair County
Building permits in St. Clair County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024740
- Declared construction value permitted$186.3 m
- Single family units authorized346
- Multifamily units authorized394
- Multifamily share of units53.2 percent
- Average declared value per unit$251,823
- Units authorized per 1,000 households7.3
Multifamily is 53.2 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
St. Clair County
SBA loans in St. Clair County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded190
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$84.8 m
- Average 7(a) approval$446,263
- Median 7(a) approval$242,000
- 10th percentile approval$34,420
- 90th percentile approval$1,275,200
- Largest single approval$2,851,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)2,061
- Jobs per approval10.8
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active59
- Distinct industries receiving approvals98
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer20.5 percent
- Loans on real estate terms39
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter133
- Franchise loans45
- Franchise share of approvals23.7 percent
- Leading industry by approval countLimited-Service Restaurants (17)
- Most active lenderBank of Belleville (28)
- 504 approvals recorded70
- 504 gross approval dollars$50.8 m
- Average 504 approval$725,829
- Median 504 approval$487,000
- Distinct CDCs active6
- 504 jobs per approval15.2
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved20.9
- Most active CDCSmall Business Growth Corporation (58)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$135.6 m
The average approval of $446,263 sits well above the median of $242,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 20.5 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
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.
St. Clair County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in St. Clair County
Do SBA loans in St. Clair County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded49
- Paid in full44
- Charged off5
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans10.2 percent
- Status: Paid in full44
- Status: Exempt from disclosure107
- Status: Charged off5
- Status: Cancelled28
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed6
Of the 49 loans that have reached a final outcome, 10.2 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
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.
St. Clair County
SBA lending by place in St. Clair County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending23
- Belleville, approvals58
- O'Fallon, approvals40
- Fairview Heights, approvals17
- East St. Louis, approvals15
- Swansea, approvals15
- Millstadt, approvals6
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Belleville | 58 | $21,825,800 |
| O'Fallon | 40 | $14,444,300 |
| Fairview Heights | 17 | $8,280,200 |
| East St. Louis | 15 | $9,361,400 |
| Swansea | 15 | $8,927,700 |
| Millstadt | 6 | $792,500 |
| Caseyville | 4 | $4,929,500 |
| Sauget | 4 | $4,247,300 |
| 15 other borrower cities | 31 | $11,981,200 |
Belleville accounts for 58 approvals against 40 in O'Fallon. 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.
St. Clair County
How large is St. Clair County?
- Land area658 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Illinois counties28th of 102
- Width, east to west30.3 mi
- Height, north to south30.5 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land386
- Establishments per square mile7.56
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.
St. Clair County
Flood risk in St. Clair County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community St. Clair County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 170616
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 10
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book31
- Of those, participating in the NFIP29
- NFIP participation rate93.5 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 10
- Communities carrying a CRS class2
- Radon levels in St. Clair 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 St. Clair County (community 170616), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 10, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places St. Clair 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. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 10, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 93.5 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 St. Clair 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 St. Clair County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024253,694
- Households100,846
- Average household size2.52
- Median household income$73,854
- Median age39.9
Common questions
St. Clair County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in St. Clair County, Illinois?
The Census Bureau estimates 251,149 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 253,694, in 100,846 households, ranking 9th of 102 Illinois counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is St. Clair County's population growing?
The population has fallen 2.52 percent since the 2020 census base of 257,631, to 251,149 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 2,139 births against 2,817 deaths, with net migration of -268. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in St. Clair County?
$73,854. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $180,300, which is 2.4 times income, and median gross rent is $1,090 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in St. Clair County?
4,973 establishments, employing 72,871 people with an annual payroll of $3.65 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 St. Clair County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 13,326 jobs, 14.8 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 89,981 jobs at an average annual pay of $57,001, or $1,096 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in St. Clair County?
190 7(a) approvals totaling $84.8 m since FY2020, across 59 lenders, with a median approval of $242,000, plus 70 504 approvals worth $50.8 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in St. Clair County get paid back?
Of the 49 loans that have reached a final outcome, 44 were paid in full and 5 charged off, a charge-off rate of 10.2 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in St. Clair County?
740 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $186.3 m. Multifamily was 53.2 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for St. Clair 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 St. Clair County come from?
The largest single origin is Madison County, with 1,017 households. Arriving households report an average income of $57,798 against $65,725 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for St. Clair 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 St. Clair 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.
St. Clair County
Cities and places in St. Clair.
34 Census places lie wholly or partly in St. Clair County. 32 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked. The rest are named here and not linked, because the American Community Survey and the SBA record between them do not carry enough about them to write an honest page. A place existing is itself worth knowing, so nothing in the county is left out.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belleville | city | 41,370 | 58 | Wholly in this county |
| O'Fallon | city | 32,262 | 40 | Wholly in this county |
| Collinsville | city | 24,031 | 2 | 14.9 percent here, 85.1 percent Madison County |
| East St. Louis | city | 17,999 | 15 | Wholly in this county |
| Cahokia Heights | city | 17,106 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Fairview Heights | city | 16,745 | 17 | Wholly in this county |
| Swansea | village | 14,710 | 15 | Wholly in this county |
| Shiloh | village | 14,572 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Columbia | city | 11,127 | None recorded | 8.6 percent here, 91.4 percent Monroe County |
| Mascoutah | city | 8,816 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Freeburg | village | 4,592 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Lebanon | city | 4,474 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Caseyville | village | 4,130 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Millstadt | village | 4,008 | 6 | Wholly in this county |
| Scott AFB | CDP | 3,957 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Dupo | village | 3,879 | 3 | 91.9 percent here, 8.1 percent Monroe County |
| Smithton | village | 3,680 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| New Baden | village | 3,463 | None recorded | 43.0 percent here, 57.0 percent Clinton County |
| Madison | city | 2,900 | None recorded | 8.0 percent here, 92.0 percent Madison County |
| Fairmont City | village | 2,492 | None recorded | 85.2 percent here, 14.8 percent Madison County |
| New Athens | village | 1,933 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Washington Park | village | 1,701 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Marissa | village | 1,232 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Brooklyn | village | 729 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| St. Libory | village | 559 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Lenzburg | village | 428 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Fayetteville | village | 357 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Sauget | village | 307 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Summerfield | village | 248 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| East Carondelet | village | 233 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Paderborn | CDP | 20 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Darmstadt | CDP | 18 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Floraville | CDP | 0 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Rentchler | CDP | 0 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 8 of the county's 190 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in St. Clair County, the largest being Cahokia (3), Scott Air Force Base (2), Troy (2). 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.