County · Illinois
Hancock County, Illinois
Hancock County, Illinois. Hancock County had 16,803 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 4.8% since 2020, a steeper fall than Illinois's (−0.8%). It holds 39 places (15 cities, villages and boroughs, 23 towns and townships and 1 census-designated) and 7 census tracts. GEOID 17067.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
16,803
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 17,620 · ACS 2020-2024: 17,281
Median household income
$65,865
±$3,254 (90% margin)
Illinois: $83,390
Median home value
$113,800
±$4,244 (90% margin)
Illinois: $263,300
Median gross rent
$782
±$54 (90% margin)
Illinois: $1,274
How many people live in Hancock County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 17,620 residents in Hancock County. The Census Bureau estimates 16,803 for July 1, 2025, down 4.8% since 2020, a steeper fall than Illinois's (−0.8%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 17,281 over 794 square miles of land.
| Measure | Hancock County | Illinois | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 17,281 | 12,694,798 | −702 |
| Households | 7,613±178 | 5,036,449 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.23±0.05 | 2.46 | −0.16 |
| Housing units | 8,938±48 | 5,457,452 | −317 |
Hancock County's population since 2000
From 20,121 in 2000 to 16,803 in 2025: down 16.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Hancock County?
Hancock County holds 39 places: 15 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 23 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 1 census-designated place. The largest is Montebello Township with 3,189 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Montebello Township | 3,341 | $59,966 |
|---|---|---|
| Carthage Township | 2,947 | $79,628 |
| Hamilton | 2,753 | $56,895 |
| Carthage | 2,490 | $77,004 |
| Warsaw | 1,510 | $58,750 |
| La Harpe Township | 1,377 | $60,417 |
| La Harpe | 1,175 | $49,205 |
| Nauvoo Township | 963 | $59,545 |
| Nauvoo | 950 | $68,750 |
| Dallas City Township | 864 | $63,542 |
| Augusta Township | 723 | $44,500 |
| Dallas City | 805 | $63,056 |
| Chili Township | 630 | $64,000 |
| St. Mary Township | 568 | $56,429 |
| Augusta | 553 | $42,861 |
| Bowen | 464 | $63,750 |
| Appanoose TownshipGEOID 1706701621 | 447 | $87,625 |
| Sonora TownshipGEOID 1706770499 | 437 | $70,250 |
| Plymouth | 436 | $41,071 |
| Prairie Township, Hancock CountyGEOID 1706761496 | 382 | $43,917 |
| Pontoosuc TownshipGEOID 1706761093 | 365 | $107,813 |
| Bear Creek Township, Hancock CountyGEOID 1706704338 | 340 | $79,250 |
| Rock Creek TownshipGEOID 1706764876 | 322 | $55,625 |
| St. Albans TownshipGEOID 1706766612 | 292 | $75,000 |
| Walker TownshipGEOID 1706778422 | 291 | $73,750 |
| Harmony TownshipGEOID 1706732993 | 288 | $58,333 |
| Rocky Run-Wilcox TownshipGEOID 1706765240 | 282 | $136,364 |
| Pilot Grove TownshipGEOID 1706759845 | 282 | not published |
| Hancock TownshipGEOID 1706732629 | 257 | not published |
| Durham TownshipGEOID 1706721306 | 248 | not published |
| Wythe TownshipGEOID 1706783713 | 246 | $129,122 |
| Fountain Green TownshipGEOID 1706727325 | 218 | not published |
| ElvastonGEOID 1723841 | 147 | $38,750 |
| West PointGEOID 1780762 | 140 | $64,375 |
| FerrisGEOID 1725895 | 127 | $43,125 |
| NiotaGEOID 1753078 | 114 | not published |
| PontoosucGEOID 1761080 | 99 | $62,500 |
| BascoGEOID 1704052 | 80 | $40,000 |
| BentleyGEOID 1705274 | 30 | $71,250 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Hancock County?
The median resident of Hancock County is 46.9 years old; 21.0% are under 18 and 24.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 94.0%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 2.3%. 1.5% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Hancock County | Illinois | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.9±0.5 | 39.0 | +0.9 |
| Under 18 years | 21.0%±0.1 pts | 21.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 24.6%±0.3 pts | 17.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.3% | 18.8% | +0.8 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 94.0%±0.4 pts | 58.1% | −2.2 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.7%±0.3 pts | 13.3% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.4%±0.1 pts | 5.9% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.3%±0.5 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.5%±0.3 pts | 14.7% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.7%±0.5 pts | 24.0% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.1%±1.0 pts | 4.8% | – |
| With a disability | 22.6%±2.0 pts | 12.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.7%±1.6 pts | 6.9% | +2.7 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 93.6%±1.2 pts | 90.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 25.1%±1.9 pts | 37.8% | +4.1 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 7.6%±1.1 pts | 15.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.6%±1.0 pts | 1.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Hancock County earn?
Half of Hancock County's 7,613 households earn less than $65,865 a year (±$3,254), against $83,390 in Illinois. In 2015-2019 it was $64,687 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 12.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Hancock County | Illinois | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $65,865±$3,254 | $83,390 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $83,824±$5,860 | $115,638 | – |
| Per capita income | $37,092±$2,485 | $46,406 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 12.3%±1.9 pts | 11.8% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 15.9%±4.7 pts | 15.1% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 13.3%±1.9 pts | 13.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 82.4%±2.2 pts | 90.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Hancock County?
Owners occupy 81.3% of Hancock County's occupied homes and renters 18.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $113,800 by its owner (±$4,244). The median renter pays $782 a month including utilities, and 34.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Hancock County | Illinois | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $113,800±$4,244 | $263,300 | +$8,453 |
| Median gross rent | $782±$54 | $1,274 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 34.6%±8.4 pts | 39.0% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,134±$46 | $1,987 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 81.3%±2.0 pts | 67.1% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 8,938±48 | 5,457,452 | −317 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.4%±1.5 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 12.1%±5.8 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 82.6%±2.0 pts | 58.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 6.0%±1.3 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 31.4%±2.3 pts | 20.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Hancock County building?
Builders took permits for 1 new housing units across Hancock County in 2025 (1 single-family), 0.1 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Hancock County get to work?
84.7% of Hancock County's workers drive alone and 7.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.2%.
| Measure | Hancock County | Illinois | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 58.8%±1.7 pts | 65.0% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2%±1.5 pts | 5.8% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 84.7%±2.3 pts | 65.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 4.8%±1.3 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.1%±0.2 pts | 5.8% | – |
| Walked | 2.1%±0.9 pts | 2.8% | – |
| Worked from home | 7.5%±1.6 pts | 15.9% | +2.4 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 24.1 min±1.3 | 27.8 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What are Hancock County's census tracts?
Hancock County is divided into 7 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $52,750 (Tract 9540) to $77,306 (Tract 9538).
| Tract 953717067953700 | 2,094±245 | $57,574 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 953817067953800 | 2,343±170 | $77,306 |
| Tract 953917067953900 | 1,579±158 | $65,972 |
| Tract 954017067954000 | 2,078±234 | $52,750 |
| Tract 954117067954100 | 3,258±94 | $62,742 |
| Tract 954217067954200 | 2,274±246 | $72,375 |
| Tract 954317067954300 | 3,655±266 | $66,288 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Hancock County compare with Illinois's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 60th of 102 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 92nd of 102 |
| Residents per square mile | 89th of 102 |
| Median household income | 58th of 102 |
| Median home value | 71st of 102 |
| Median gross rent | 70th of 102 |
| Poverty rate | 54th of 102 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29th of 102 |
| Median age | 9th of 102 |
Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Hancock County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.