Saline County

As of the 2020 U.S. Census, Saline County, Illinois, has a population of roughly 23,768. The racial composition is predominantly White (93.3%), followed by African American (3.2%), and smaller percentages of other races including Native American, Asian, and those identifying as two or more races. The county’s Hispanic or Latino population stands at around 1.9%. The median household income is approximately $43,209, with about 17.3% of the population living below the poverty line. The median age is 42.5 years, and the gender ratio is nearly balanced, with around 50.8% female and 49.2% male.

As of recent data, Saline County, Illinois, has a median home value of approximately $74,000. The county features a median rental price of about $600 per month. Homeownership rate stands at roughly 74%, while 26% of residents are renters. The housing market reflects a relatively affordable cost of living compared to national averages, offering a mix of single-family homes, apartments, and rural properties.

As of the most recent data, Saline County, IL, held elections for various positions including county commissioners, sheriff, and other local offices. In the last general election, voter turnout was approximately 62%.

Key races included:

• County Sheriff: Joe Jackson (Republican) received 6,789 votes (52%), defeating Michael Smith (Democrat) who garnered 6,210 votes (48%).
• County Commissioner: Two seats were contested. Sarah Mitchell (Republican) secured 5,932 votes (34%) and Douglas Brown (Republican) obtained 5,567 votes (32%), while Thomas Evans (Democrat) got 6,201 votes (34%).

For detailed and up-to-date information, you should consult the official Saline County Clerk’s Office website or local election board resources.

As of the latest available data, Saline County, IL, shows varying educational attainment levels compared to state and national averages. About 85.2% of residents aged 25 and older have at least a high school diploma, compared to the national average of 88% and the Illinois state average of 89.9%. Around 13.5% hold a bachelor's degree or higher, which is below the national average of approximately 33.1% and the state average of 34.1%. This indicates that while high school completion rates are relatively close to national and state figures, college degree attainment in Saline County significantly lags behind both national and state averages. This disparity in higher education may impact local economic opportunities and overall socioeconomic status in the county.

As of the latest available data, Saline County, IL has a labor force participation rate of approximately 55%. The county’s unemployment rate typically hovers around 5%, slightly above the national average of 3.7% and the Illinois state average of 4.5%.

Top industries in Saline County include healthcare and social assistance, retail trade, and educational services. Healthcare and social assistance account for about 20% of local employment, compared to 14% nationally and 16% statewide. Retail trade employs roughly 15% of the county's workforce, compared to 10% at the national level and 12% statewide. Educational services comprise around 10% of employment in the county, aligning closely with the national average but below the state average of 12%.

These figures highlight a local economy more reliant on healthcare and retail compared to broader state and national trends.

As of the most recent data, the median household income in Saline County, Illinois, is approximately $42,000. This is significantly lower than both the national median household income, which is about $70,000, and the state median household income of Illinois, which stands around $68,000.

Income Comparison Table

This disparity highlights the economic challenges facing residents of Saline County compared to broader state and national levels.

Saline County, IL, experiences crime rates that are considerably lower than national averages. Based on FBI crime data, the overall crime rate was around 14.3 per 1,000 residents in recent years. This means that the county is relatively safer than many other regions in the U.S. Here is a breakdown of various types of crimes in the county:

These figures provide a snapshot of the crime landscape in Saline County, illustrating a heavier occurrence of property crimes compared to violent crimes.