Knox County Income Charts

This section shows the Knox County Illinois economy using the most recent economic analysis from the 2022 Census Bureau. Starting with Figure 1 which shows the median earnings per worker, Knox County depicts it has a Median earnings of $43,770 which is less than most other counties in the surrounding region. The county with the highest median earnings per worker in the area is Peoria County which depicts a median earnings of $52,693 (20.4% larger). Comparing median earnings per worker to the United States average of $53,269, Knox County is about 21.7% smaller. Also, measured against the state of Illinois, median earnings per worker of $56,393, Knox County is approximately three-fourths the size.

In Figure 2 a more complete view of income is shown which aggregates income from all members in the household and it has a Median household income of $45,994 which is the smallest in terms of median household income of all the other counties in the local area. The county with the highest median household income in the area is Henry County which indicates a median income of $62,097 (35.0% larger). Comparing median household income to the United States average of $69,021, Knox County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, measured against the state of Illinois, median household income of $72,563, Knox County is approximately three-fourths the size.

The next section examines a variety of different income statistics for the Knox County metropolitan area. In Figure 3 we see that it has the smallest proportion of earnings between $20,000 and $49,999 at 19.0% of the total. Second, it has the smallest proportion of earnings between $75,000 and $99,999 at 4.7% of the total.

Figure 5 has the Average number of hours worked in a typical work week during the year, it has a Avg Hours Worked of 36.8 which is the smallest in terms of average hours of all the other counties in the area. The county with the highest average hours in the area is Stark County which shows an average hours of 39.8 (8.2% larger). Dividing median annual worker earnings by the average number of hours worked in a year in Figure 6 shows that it has a Avg Hrly Earnings of $22.87 which is less than most other counties in the metropolitan area. The county with the highest average hourly earnings in the area is Peoria County which depicts an average hourly earnings of $26.53 (16.0% larger). Comparing average hourly earnings to the United States average of $26.40, Knox County is about 15.4% smaller. Also, in contrast to the state of Illinois, average hourly earnings of $28.10, Knox County is about 22.8% smaller.

Figure 7 examines the number of self employed people in the Knox County metro area based on the number of people who reported any self employment income. Knox County shows it has a Self Employed of 7.8% which is the second smallest when ranked by percentage of people self employed of all the other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest percentage of people self employed in the area is Warren County which depicts a percentage self employed of 14.2% (about twice as large).

Turning our attention to Figure 8, the median household income by age group, has the smallest proportion of median income-under 25 years at $54,336 of the total. Second, it has the second smallest in order of median income for those under 25 years of age of all the other counties in the local area when ranked by median income-25 to 44 years at $63,171 of the total. Third, it has the smallest proportion of median income-45 to 64 years at $36,834 of the total.

Figure 9 breaks down the source of income and Knox County has the smallest proportion of self employment income at 14.6% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of investment and retirement income at 13.0% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the largest proportion of social security at 1.4% of the total and is ranked #1.

The next chart (Figure 11) shows the percentage of households that had retirement income over the last 12 months and it has a With Retirement Income of 27.8% which is less than most other counties in the area. The county with the highest households with retirement income in the area is Fulton County which shows a households with retirement income of 32.3% (16.2% larger).

In the next chart, Figure 12, the median family income is shown for families broken down by racial group and has the percentage of overall family income the second smallest in order of overall family income of all the other counties in the metro area at $71,681 of the total. Second, it has in the middle range of other counties in the metro area when sorted by white family income at $20,986 of the total. Third, it has one of the largest proportions of hawaiian family income at $60,385 of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Henry County ($65,536), and #1 Fulton County ($80,208) are larger.

Figure 13 shows the cost of living and other consumer spending categories for a variety of cost components from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Knox County shows it has the hightest cost of 103.1 for the cost of utilities classification.

Knox County Labor Force Charts

The next two charts look at very recent, monthly trended employment related performance using data estimated by economists at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS tracks unemployment statistics for a large number of areas throughout the country on a month to month basis. However, not every location in the U.S. is tracked by the BLS so the chart will only show the closest location available (which may be the same location.) Figure 14 shows the monthly unemployment rate for the area as well as a comparison to the overall national economy measure for the United States. Note that in March to April 2020, the Covid 19 recession or great recession occurred and affects this metric. . It depicts that from February 2010 to before the disasterous COVID Pandemic the monthly unemployment rate went from 11.5% to 4.3% in February 2020. This represents a decrease in the monthly unemployment rate of 62.6%. Since that time, the monthly unemployment rate has gone to 5.5% This represents an increase in the monthly unemployment rate of 27.9%. In Figure 15 the monthly labor force participation which are people actively looking for work are also defined as unemployed but do not include people who have given up looking for work. . It depicts that from February 2010 to before the Wuhan virus Pandemic the monthly labor force participation went from 25,135 to 19,978 in March 2020. This represents a decrease in the monthly labor force participation of 20.5%. Since that time, the monthly labor force participation has gone to 20,786 This represents an increase in the monthly labor force participation of 4.0%.

The next two charts look at the annual unemployment rate/eligible for unemployment benefits and is based on the American Community survey. Figure 16 shows Knox County depicts it has a Unemployment Rate of 2.8% which is in the middle range of other counties in the surrounding region. The county with the highest unemployment rate in the area is Warren County which shows a rate of 5.2% (about twice as large). Figure 17 shows the labor force participation using the estimated percentage of people either working or actively looking for work. Knox County depicts it has a Labor Force Participation of 53.7% which is the smallest in order of participation rate of all the other counties in the local area.

The Components of Employment Status graph in Figure 18 shows the composition of the labor force broken down by employed, unemployed, and not in the labor force (but 16 years of age or older). Knox County has the largest proportion of unemployed at 46.3% of the total and is ranked #1.

The percentage of full-time workers are compared to the number of part-time workers in Figure 19. Knox County indicates full time employees approximately 2.5 times bigger as the part time employees.

The next employment related data item is shown in Figure 21 which is the percentage of families with only a single earner in the greater Knox County area. Knox County shows it has a Single Earner Families of 27.6% which is the second most families with a single earner of all the counties in the greater Knox County region. The county with the highest families with a single earner in the area is Stark County which shows a single earners rate of 29.1% (only about 5.6% larger). The percentage of families with no one working is depicted in Figure 22. Knox County depicts it has a Families with No One Working of 22.0% which is the third most families with no one working of all other counties in the greater Knox County region. The county with the highest families with no one working in the area is Fulton County which depicts a families with no worker of 26.2% (18.9% larger).

Knox County Poverty Charts

The next section details economy analysis about poverty for residents of the Knox County community. This performance can be enhanced by government programs such as economic opportunity zone to influence manufacturing, job growth, economic opportunity an hopefully lead to economic recovery after the recent Covid 19 recession. In Figure 23 the total number of people earning less than the poverty level are shown. Knox County depicts it has a Total In Poverty of 7,423 which is the second most total people earning less than the poverty level of all the counties in the greater Knox County region. The county with the highest total people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Peoria County which shows a total people earning less than the poverty level of 27,707 (approximately 3.7 times bigger).

In Figure 24 the percentage of people earning less than the poverty level is shown and compared across the group of places. Knox County shows it has a Percent of Population In Poverty of 16.2% which is ranked #1 of all counties in the greater Knox County region.

In Figure 25 people who are in poverty are broken out by age group. Knox County has the smallest proportion of person in poverty under 12 years at 6% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of person in poverty 55 to 64 years at 14% of the total and is ranked #1.

The next chart, Figure 26, shows the percentage of people in poverty by racial group. Knox County has one of the largest proportions of white poverty rate at 51% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Mercer County with 71%. Second, it has the largest proportion of american indian poverty rate at 26% of the total and is ranked #1. Additionally, Figure 30 looks at the percentage of people who receive some form of public assistance including general assistance, temporary assistance or food stamps (i.e. SNAP.) Knox County shows it has a Public Assistance Percent of 18.2% which is the most of all counties in the greater Knox County region.

Figure 31 shows the "Gini Index of Income Inequality" with a range from zero (perfect equality) to one (perfect inequality). Knox County shows it has a Gini Index of 45.5% which is the second most the gini index of all the counties in the greater Knox County region.

Knox County Work Commute Charts

The following set of charts detail a variety of metrics that have economic impact, economic grow factors and economic development metrics in the Knox County community and has an impact on other factors such as economic growth, population growth, economic recovery, job growth, etc.. Figure 32 shows a high level view of how the population commutes to work (including the percent of people who work from home.) Knox County has the largest proportion of people who take public transportation to work at 5% of the total and is ranked #1. Figure 33 shows a more detailed view of how the population commutes to work for (for example to downtown Knox County or elsewhere.) Knox County has the smallest proportion of people who drove alone at 81% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of people who carpooled at 8% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the largest proportion of people who take the ferry at 0% of the total and is ranked #1. Also, it has the largest proportion of people who walked at 5% of the total and is ranked #1.

In Figure 35 is shown a frequency distribution of the time that people leave for work. Knox County has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 530 am to 6am at 7% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 11am to 12noon at 12% of the total and is ranked #1.

The next graph in Figure 36 shows the average number of minutes that it takes for people to commute to work. Knox County has one of the largest proportions of people with commute time of less than 5 minutesutes at 20% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Warren County (22%), and #1 Fulton County (23%) are larger. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of people with commute time between 5 to 9 minutes at 20% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Peoria County with 21%. Third, it has one of the largest proportions of people with commute time between 10 to 14 minutes at 18% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Peoria County with 23%. Also, it has the smallest proportion of people with commute time between 25 to 29 minutes at 6% of the total.

The average commute time is shown in Figure 37. Knox County shows it has a Avg Commute Time of 21 which is less than most other counties in the metro area. Figure 38 shows the difference between male versus female commuting time. Knox County shows average commute time in minutes for men 18.5% larger as the average commute time in minutes for women. Figure 40 shows the total number of vehicles available for transportation and Knox County has one of the largest proportions of no vehicle available at 23% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Peoria County with 24%. Second, it has the smallest proportion of 3 vehicles available at 7% of the total. Third, it has the second smallest in terms of no vehicle available of all the other counties in the local area in order of 4 vehicles available at 4% of the total. Figure 41 shows the percentage of people who both work and live in the same city (town or place.) Knox County shows it has a Work in city or place where live of 56% which is is the uppermost of the counties in the greater Knox County region. Comparing people who both work and live in the same city to the United States average of 44%, Knox County is 28.0% larger. Also, benchmarked against the state of Illinois, people who both work and live in the same city of 41%, Knox County is 37.5% larger.

Knox County Jobs Charts

The next to charts break out the median earnings for major job categories for men and women. Figure 46 shows the median earnings of men for the job categories. Knox County depicts it has the hightest median earnings of $72,500 for the earnings-computer, engineering, and science occupations classification. Similarly, Figure 47 shows the median earnings of women for the job categories and Knox County shows it has the hightest median earnings of $70,714 for the earnings-protective service occupations aggregate. The table in Figure 48, shows Knox County employment data in terms of job categories and salary data.

Knox County Self Employment Charts

Figure 49 shows economic activity in terms of the number of people who are self employed in incorporated local business by industry. Knox County depicts it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 37% for the self employed management, business, science, and arts businesses classification.

Similar to the last chart is Figure 50 which shows the number of people who are self employed but in more detailed industry categories such as manufacturing, retail sales, residential real estate, commercial real estate, health care, exports/imports, and advanced industries, etc. Knox County depicts it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 19% for the self employed in professional, scientific, management, administrative services aggregate.

In Figure 51 the average annual self employment/entrepreneur income is shown. Knox County depicts it has a Self Employment Income of $29,787 which is in the mid range of other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest average annual self employment income in the area is Warren County which depicts an average annual self employment income of $47,636 (59.9% larger). Comparing average annual self employment income to the United States average of $42,141, Knox County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, compared with the state of Illinois, average annual self employment income of $41,211, Knox County is approximately three-fourths the size.

Figure 52 shows the difference between the number of self employed men and self employed women (i.e. entrepreneurs.) Knox County depicts total number of self-employed men about twice as large as the total number of self-employed women.