Ford County

Ford County is a rural county in east-central Illinois, situated on the open prairie between Champaign-Urbana and the Indiana state line. Created in 1859 and named for early Illinois politician Thomas Ford, it developed as an agricultural area shaped by 19th-century railroad expansion and the region’s fertile soils. The county is small in population, with roughly 14,000 residents, and is characterized by low population density and a landscape dominated by flat to gently rolling farmland. Corn and soybean production anchors the local economy, alongside related agribusiness and small-town services. Communities are dispersed, with the largest population center in and around the county seat, Paxton. Cultural and civic life reflects the patterns typical of central Illinois: school and community institutions, local events, and a built environment of small towns surrounded by extensive cropland.

Ford County is a rural county in east-central Illinois, with its county seat in Paxton and communities spread along the Interstate 57 corridor. The county borders several other predominantly agricultural counties and forms part of the broader Central Illinois region.

Population Size

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts profile for Ford County, Illinois, Ford County had a population of 13,534 (2020).

Age & Gender

County-level age and sex breakdowns are published by the U.S. Census Bureau through its QuickFacts profile and American Community Survey (ACS) tables. The most direct county summary is available via the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts profile for Ford County, which reports:

• Age distribution (selected age groups and median age): listed in the QuickFacts “Age and Sex” section for Ford County.
• Gender ratio (male/female shares): listed in the QuickFacts “Age and Sex” section for Ford County.

Racial & Ethnic Composition

The U.S. Census Bureau provides county racial and Hispanic/Latino origin statistics in its QuickFacts profile for Ford County. See the “Race and Hispanic Origin” section in the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts profile for Ford County, Illinois for:

• Shares by race (e.g., White, Black or African American, Asian, multiracial)
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race) share

Household & Housing Data

Household and housing characteristics (including households, persons per household, owner-occupied rate, median home value, and selected housing-unit measures) are summarized for Ford County in the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts profile under “Housing” and “Families & Living Arrangements.”

For local government and planning resources, visit the Ford County official website.

Ford County, Illinois is a predominantly rural county with low population density, which generally increases last‑mile network costs and can limit fixed broadband availability; this can affect routine use of email and other online services. Direct county-level email usage statistics are not routinely published, so broadband subscription, device access, and demographics serve as proxies.

Digital access indicators for Ford County are available from the U.S. Census Bureau data portal (ACS “Computer and Internet Use”) and FCC National Broadband Map (service availability). These sources summarize household broadband subscriptions, computer ownership, and where service is advertised.

Age structure influences email adoption because older age groups tend to have lower internet and device adoption rates than prime working-age adults, affecting overall email penetration. County age distribution is reported in ACS tables via the U.S. Census Bureau. Gender distribution is also available in ACS and is generally less predictive of email adoption than age and access constraints.

Connectivity limitations are primarily tied to rural infrastructure gaps (sparser fiber/cable coverage and reliance on DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite), as reflected in the FCC broadband availability data.

Ford County is in east-central Illinois, with its county seat in Paxton. The county is predominantly rural and characterized by flat to gently rolling agricultural terrain and low population density relative to Illinois metro areas. These factors typically produce larger cell “coverage footprints” (fewer towers per square mile) and greater variability in in-building signal strength and mobile data performance than in denser urban counties, particularly at the edges of carrier service areas.

Data scope and limitations (county-level vs state/national measures)

County-specific statistics for “mobile penetration” (for example, the share of residents owning a mobile phone) are not consistently published as a single metric at the county level in standard federal releases. The most reliable county-resolvable sources for connectivity are:

• Network availability (where service is advertised): the FCC’s mobile broadband availability datasets and maps.
• Household adoption (what households subscribe to or use): U.S. Census Bureau survey products, often more robust for “internet subscription” and “computer type,” with mobile-only households not always measured cleanly at county granularity.

As a result, Ford County discussion below separates (1) network availability from (2) adoption/usage indicators, and notes where county-level precision is limited.

Network availability (supply-side): 4G/5G presence and where it varies

Network availability describes where carriers report that service exists, not whether residents subscribe or receive consistent speeds.

FCC mobile broadband availability and coverage mapping

The most authoritative public source for reported 4G LTE and 5G coverage in the United States is the FCC’s Broadband Data Collection (BDC). The FCC publishes availability maps and downloadable datasets that can be filtered to Ford County, Illinois:

• The FCC’s map interface shows reported 4G LTE and 5G coverage layers by provider and technology: FCC National Broadband Map.
• The underlying data program and methodology are described here: FCC Broadband Data Collection.

County-relevant interpretation: In rural counties such as Ford, reported 4G LTE coverage is typically widespread along highways and population centers (Paxton and smaller communities), with more variability in sparsely populated areas. Reported 5G availability can exist in rural counties, but the type of 5G (low-band versus mid-band) and the resulting performance can vary substantially; the FCC availability layers indicate where 5G is claimed to be available, not the performance tier.

Illinois state broadband planning context

Illinois publishes broadband planning materials and regional context that can support interpretation of rural connectivity conditions (including backhaul and middle-mile constraints that can affect mobile performance):

• Illinois Office of Broadband (Connect Illinois).

State broadband materials are useful context but generally do not substitute for carrier-by-carrier mobile coverage detail at the county scale.

Household adoption and access (demand-side): what residents subscribe to and use

Adoption describes what households actually have (subscriptions, devices, and ways of accessing the internet). Adoption can differ from availability due to price, device cost, digital skills, credit requirements, and perceived need.

Internet subscription and device indicators (Census-based)

The U.S. Census Bureau provides measures on household internet subscriptions and computing devices through survey products such as the American Community Survey (ACS). These tables commonly include:

• Whether households have an internet subscription (and sometimes categories such as cellular data plan, broadband, or dial-up depending on table/vintage).
• Whether households have computing devices (desktop/laptop, smartphone, tablet, etc., depending on table/vintage).

Primary entry points:

• data.census.gov (searchable tables by geography, including counties)
• American Community Survey (ACS)

County-level limitation: Some ACS technology detail is available by county, but smaller-population geographies can have higher margins of error, and not all “mobile-only” concepts (such as “smartphone-only internet households”) are consistently available at county granularity in every release.

Mobile internet usage patterns: typical rural profile and measurable proxies

Direct measurement of “mobile internet usage patterns” (such as share of traffic on mobile vs fixed, or typical app usage) is not published as an official county statistic. Practical, non-speculative proxies include:

• Availability by technology (4G LTE vs 5G) from the FCC BDC (supply-side).
• Household subscription categories (where ACS tables distinguish cellular data plans from fixed broadband) (demand-side).
• Smartphone presence in household device tables (where available) (device-side).

For Ford County, the FCC map and datasets provide the most defensible way to describe where 4G LTE and 5G are reported to exist. Actual usage intensity and performance are not directly observable from those availability datasets.

Common device types: smartphones versus other devices

County-specific device-type splits are most defensibly drawn from Census/ACS “computer and internet use” tables when available for Ford County via data.census.gov. These tables, depending on year, can distinguish among:

• Smartphones
• Tablets
• Desktop/laptop computers
• Other computing devices

Interpretation constraint: ACS device ownership indicates presence of a device type in a household, not frequency of use, data consumption, or whether the household relies on mobile service as its primary internet connection.

Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage in Ford County

The factors below describe mechanisms that affect mobile connectivity and adoption in rural Illinois counties; they are grounded in widely observed rural telecommunications conditions, while avoiding county-unique numerical claims not published in county-level official data.

Population density and settlement pattern

• Lower density generally results in fewer cell sites per square mile and longer distances between towers, which can reduce signal strength indoors and in fringe areas.
• Small towns typically have better multi-carrier coverage than surrounding farmland due to higher demand concentration.

County background and geography can be referenced via official local information:

• Ford County government

Terrain and land use

• Ford County’s largely flat agricultural landscape tends to support longer line-of-sight propagation than heavily forested or mountainous regions.
• Despite favorable terrain, tower spacing and backhaul availability remain key determinants of mobile performance, particularly for high-capacity 5G deployments.

Age, income, and digital inclusion (measured more reliably above county scale)

Demographic correlates of mobile-only internet reliance and smartphone dependency are frequently analyzed at state and national levels (age distribution, income, educational attainment). County-level breakdowns can be derived from ACS demographic tables, but connecting those directly to mobile adoption requires careful interpretation because:

• Mobile subscription type is not always measured with the same detail as demographics at small geographies.
• Margins of error can be large for some county estimates.

Demographic baselines for Ford County are available from:

• U.S. Census Bureau tables on data.census.gov

Clear distinction: availability vs adoption in Ford County

• Network availability (4G/5G): Best measured using the FCC’s reported-coverage maps and BDC datasets at the FCC National Broadband Map. This indicates where providers claim service exists in Ford County by technology.
• Household adoption (subscriptions/devices): Best measured using U.S. Census Bureau survey tables via data.census.gov. These indicate whether households report internet subscriptions and which device types are present, with recognized limitations in mobile-only specificity and sampling error at small geographies.

Practical notes on interpreting official mobile coverage for rural counties

• FCC availability reflects provider filings and is not a direct measure of on-the-ground speed tests or in-building performance.
• County-wide statements about “typical” 5G performance require performance data (drive tests or crowdsourced measurements) that are not part of official FCC availability reporting; such claims are not supported without a cited county-level performance study.

Ford County is a rural county in east‑central Illinois along the I‑57 corridor, with Paxton (the county seat) as its largest community and an economy centered on agriculture and small‑town services. Lower population density and longer travel distances tend to align with heavier reliance on mobile connectivity and community-focused communication channels, while overall adoption patterns generally track statewide and national access trends.

User statistics (penetration and active use)

• Local, county-specific social media penetration rates are not published in standard federal statistical series; most reliable figures are available at national/state level rather than for individual rural counties.
• Internet access (a key constraint on social media use): The U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey provides the most widely used local baseline for household internet/computer availability (often used to contextualize likely social media reach). See U.S. Census Bureau data (data.census.gov) for Ford County internet subscription and device measures.
• National social media use (benchmark): About seven-in-ten U.S. adults use at least one social media site (survey-based). Source: Pew Research Center social media fact sheet. This serves as the most cited benchmark when county-level measurements are unavailable.

Age group trends

National survey data consistently shows the highest social media usage among younger adults:

• Ages 18–29: highest usage across most major platforms.
• Ages 30–49: high usage, generally below 18–29.
• Ages 50–64 and 65+: lower overall usage, with some platform-specific exceptions (notably Facebook among older adults). Source: Pew Research Center platform-by-age breakdowns.
  In rural counties like Ford, these age gradients commonly appear in community communication patterns (schools, local events, and peer networks) concentrated on a smaller set of platforms.

Gender breakdown

Pew’s U.S. adult findings show platform differences by gender more than large differences in “any social media” adoption:

• Women are more likely than men to use Pinterest and Facebook.
• Men are more likely than women to use platforms such as Reddit (and, in some surveys, YouTube usage is broadly high across genders). Source: Pew Research Center social media fact sheet (gender by platform).

Most-used platforms (percentages where available)

County-level platform shares are generally not published by reputable survey organizations; the most defensible approach is to cite national usage rates as a benchmark:

• YouTube: widely used by U.S. adults (top-tier reach).
• Facebook: remains one of the highest-reach platforms and is especially important for local/community information sharing.
• Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat: skew younger; usage decreases with age.
• LinkedIn: more concentrated among college-educated and higher-income adults. Platform usage percentages and demographic splits: Pew Research Center social media fact sheet.

Behavioral trends (engagement and preferences)

• Community information utility: In rural counties, Facebook Groups/pages commonly function as high-engagement channels for local news, events, school updates, and marketplace activity, aligning with Facebook’s broad reach and older-age penetration (nationally documented by Pew).
• Short-form video growth: TikTok and Instagram Reels align with younger audiences and entertainment-first engagement; YouTube supports longer-form how-to, local interest, and agricultural or mechanical content consumption patterns typical in rural contexts (platform reach supported by Pew).
• Messaging-centric behavior: A substantial share of social interaction occurs via private messaging (e.g., Facebook Messenger/Instagram DMs) rather than public posting, consistent with national findings that many users prefer smaller-audience or private interactions over broad broadcasting (see Pew’s social media research summaries: Pew Research Center Internet & Technology).
• Time and frequency concentration: Engagement tends to concentrate on one or two primary platforms in smaller markets, with secondary “check-in” use of video platforms (YouTube) and platform-specific networks (LinkedIn) depending on occupation and commuting patterns.

Ford County family-related public records are primarily maintained through the county clerk and state vital records systems. Birth and death records (vital records) are recorded and certified through the local registration process, with official statewide administration through the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Division of Vital Records. Adoption records are generally handled through the state and courts and are not treated as general public records; access is restricted under state rules.

Ford County maintains court records that can document family relationships through probate, guardianship, and domestic-relations case files. Public access to case information is available through the Illinois courts’ e-filing and access portals, including Illinois Courts e-Services (eFileIL and related access tools). Some records may also be available through the circuit clerk’s office in the county courthouse.

Online public databases for Ford County-specific vital records are limited; certified copies are typically requested directly from the relevant office rather than retrieved from a searchable public index. In-person access is commonly available for nonsealed court files during normal business hours.

Privacy restrictions apply widely: birth records are typically restricted for a statutory period, many family-court matters and juvenile cases are confidential, and sealed or expunged cases are not publicly accessible.

Types of records available

• Marriage licenses (and marriage certificates/returns)
  Ford County maintains marriage records created through the county clerk’s issuance of a marriage license and the completed officiant’s return (often used to produce a certified marriage certificate).

• Divorce records (court case files and judgments)
  Divorce records are maintained as circuit court case records. The final outcome is typically recorded in a Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage (divorce decree), along with related orders.

• Annulments (court case files and judgments)
  Annulments are maintained as circuit court case records, typically resulting in a Judgment of Invalidity of Marriage (the modern Illinois term for annulment).

Where records are filed and how they can be accessed

• Marriage records (filed with Ford County Clerk)

  • Office of record: Ford County Clerk (marriage license issuance and marriage record retention).
  • Access method: Requests are commonly handled through the county clerk’s office for certified copies and record searches, subject to identification and applicable fees under county procedures.
  • State-level reference: Illinois marriage records are also collected at the state level by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Division of Vital Records, which provides verification and certified copies under state rules.
  • Reference: Illinois Department of Public Health – Marriage and divorce records

• Divorce and annulment records (filed with Ford County Circuit Court / Clerk of the Circuit Court)

  • Office of record: Ford County Clerk of the Circuit Court (custodian of court case records for divorces and annulments).
  • Access method: Case records are accessed through the clerk’s records request processes and, where available, court/public access systems for docket-level information. Copies of judgments and pleadings are obtained from the circuit clerk, subject to court rules and any sealing/redaction orders.
  • State-level reference: IDPH maintains statewide divorce reporting data and provides verifications and, for eligible applicants, certified copies according to IDPH policy.
  • Reference: IDPH – Marriage and divorce records

Typical information included in these records

• Marriage license / marriage record

  • Parties’ names (and commonly maiden name for the bride/spouse where applicable)
  • Date and place of marriage (county/municipality)
  • Date license issued and license number/book and page or certificate number (format varies by time period)
  • Officiant’s name and title; sometimes the officiant’s address or affiliation
  • Ages or dates of birth (varies by era), and sometimes places of birth
  • Residences at time of application
  • Parent/guardian consent indicators for underage applicants (when applicable under law)
  • Signatures (applicants, officiant, clerk) on older paper records

• Divorce decree (Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage) and case file

  • Names of the parties and case number
  • Filing date and date of judgment; court location and judge
  • Findings regarding grounds/statutory basis (terminology varies by historical period; modern cases follow Illinois dissolution statutes)
  • Orders addressing property division, allocation of debts, maintenance (spousal support), and restoration of former name (when ordered)
  • Parenting-related orders when minor children are involved (allocation of parental responsibilities, parenting time, child support)
  • Related orders and filings in the case file (petitions, summons/service returns, motions, financial affidavits, settlement agreements, QDROs where applicable)

• Annulment judgment (Judgment of Invalidity of Marriage) and case file

  • Names of the parties and case number
  • Filing and judgment dates; judge and court location
  • Statutory basis for invalidity and the court’s findings
  • Orders relating to property, support, and (where applicable) parenting issues
  • Associated pleadings and evidence filings in the court case file

Privacy or legal restrictions

• Marriage records (vital records)

  • Certified copies are generally issued under Illinois vital records rules and county clerk procedures, typically requiring a qualifying request, proper identification, and payment of fees.
  • Certain data elements may be restricted or redacted on copies provided to the public depending on state law, county policy, and record age.

• Divorce and annulment records (court records)

  • Court records are generally public unless sealed by court order or protected by statute/court rule.
  • Sensitive information may be redacted (for example, Social Security numbers and certain financial account identifiers).
  • Records involving minors, adoption-related matters, orders of protection, or other protected categories may have additional access restrictions.
  • Access to some documents may be limited even when docket information is available, depending on confidentiality rules and local court practices.

Ford County is a predominantly rural county in east-central Illinois with its county seat in Paxton and small population centers such as Gibson City and Elliott. The county’s population is relatively older than many metropolitan areas, with a community context shaped by agriculture, small manufacturing and service employers, and school districts that serve dispersed townships and villages.

Education Indicators

Public schools (count and names)

Ford County’s K–12 public education is delivered through several local districts serving Paxton, Gibson City, and surrounding rural areas. A consolidated, authoritative school-by-school list is most reliably obtained from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) directory for Ford County (the directory provides the current set of “attendance centers” and their official names): Illinois Report Card (ISBE).
Note: The number of buildings and school names can change with consolidations and grade-center reorganizations; the ISBE Illinois Report Card is the standard source for the current list.

Student–teacher ratios and graduation rates

• Student–teacher ratios: District-level ratios in rural Illinois counties commonly fall in the mid-teens (often ~13:1 to ~16:1). Ford County district-specific ratios should be taken from each district’s Illinois Report Card profile, which reports staffing and enrollment used to derive ratios. Source: ISBE Illinois Report Card.
• Graduation rates: Illinois reports 4-year cohort graduation rates at the school and district level through the Illinois Report Card. Ford County’s high school graduation rates should be cited from the relevant high school(s) in the county using the most recent report-year shown on ISBE. Source: ISBE Illinois Report Card.
  Data note: Countywide rollups are not always presented as a single figure on state report cards; school- and district-level values are the most current official metrics.

Adult education levels (educational attainment)

Ford County’s adult educational attainment is best captured by the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (most recent release). Key indicators typically reported include:

• High school graduate or higher (age 25+): reported as a percentage of adults 25 and older.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher (age 25+): reported as a percentage of adults 25 and older.
  Source: U.S. Census Bureau data portal (ACS Educational Attainment).
  Data note: ACS 5-year estimates are the standard for small counties; single-year estimates may be suppressed or less stable.

Notable programs (STEM, vocational training, Advanced Placement)

• Career and Technical Education (CTE): Rural Illinois districts commonly participate in regional CTE arrangements (often through area career centers or cooperatives) offering vocational pathways (e.g., agriculture, industrial technology, health occupations). District participation and program lists are reported on local district pages and sometimes summarized in ISBE report card narratives. Source: ISBE Illinois Report Card.
• Advanced Placement (AP) / dual credit: High schools report AP participation and performance indicators (where applicable) and dual-credit participation may be documented through district partnerships with Illinois community colleges. The Illinois Report Card provides available course-taking and readiness indicators at the school level. Source: ISBE Illinois Report Card.
  Data note: Whether AP is offered can vary by high school size; in smaller rural schools, dual-credit and articulated CTE pathways may be more common than broad AP catalogs.

School safety measures and counseling resources

Illinois requires districts to maintain safety plans and provides reporting related to student supports; many districts employ counselors, social workers, and/or contract-based mental-health services scaled to enrollment. Staffing and student support service counts (where reported) are available on the Illinois Report Card at the district/school level. Source: ISBE Illinois Report Card.
Data note: Specific measures (e.g., secure entryways, SRO presence, threat assessment teams) are typically detailed in district board policies and school safety plans rather than countywide datasets.

Employment and Economic Conditions

Unemployment rate (most recent year available)

The most comparable official unemployment rate for Ford County is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program, typically available as annual averages and monthly values. Source: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics.
Data note: The most recent full-year annual average is the appropriate “most recent year available” metric when monthly volatility is not desired.

Major industries and employment sectors

Ford County’s economy reflects a rural Illinois mix, with significant roles for:

• Agriculture and agribusiness (crop production and related services)
• Manufacturing (often small to mid-sized plants in regional trade centers)
• Educational services, health care, and social assistance
• Retail trade and food services
• Transportation/warehousing and construction (often tied to regional logistics and local building trades)
  The ACS and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) provide sector composition for employment and earnings. Sources: ACS industry by occupation/employment and BEA regional economic accounts.

Common occupations and workforce breakdown

Occupational distribution in similar rural counties commonly concentrates in:

• Management, business, and financial operations (small-business management, public administration)
• Production, transportation, and material moving
• Office and administrative support
• Sales and related
• Service occupations (healthcare support, food service)
• Construction and extraction
  The ACS “Occupation by industry” tables provide the most consistent breakdown for Ford County. Source: ACS occupation tables.

Commuting patterns and mean commute times

• Mean travel time to work: Reported by the ACS; rural counties typically have shorter-to-moderate commute times than major metro suburbs, with a large share driving alone and limited public transit usage. Source: ACS commuting (travel time and means of transportation).
• Modes: Predominantly car/truck/van, mostly drive-alone, with small shares carpooling and minimal transit.

Local employment versus out-of-county work

Out-of-county commuting is common in rural Illinois counties because employment is concentrated in a few regional hubs. The ACS provides county-of-residence worker flow indicators indirectly (place-of-work characteristics and commuting time), while the most detailed origin–destination patterns are typically drawn from the U.S. Census Bureau’s LEHD/OnTheMap tools. Source: OnTheMap (LEHD) commuting flows.
Data note: A single countywide “local vs out-of-county” percentage is best taken directly from OnTheMap residence-to-work area reports for the most recent available year.

Housing and Real Estate

Homeownership rate and rental share

Ford County’s homeownership rate and renter share are reported by the ACS, which is the standard source for county-level tenure in small counties. Rural Illinois counties commonly have higher homeownership rates than statewide averages due to lower housing costs and higher shares of single-family housing. Source: ACS housing tenure.

Median property values and recent trends

• Median owner-occupied home value: Reported by ACS 5-year estimates (median value). Source: ACS median home value.
• Recent trends: Small rural counties in Illinois have generally experienced slower appreciation than major metro areas, with values influenced by interest rates, local employment stability, and housing supply constraints (limited new construction).
  Data note: For a transaction-based trend (sales prices over time), county recorder/MLS data or the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index coverage may be limited for small counties; ACS median value provides a consistent proxy. FHFA data (where available): FHFA House Price Index.

Typical rent prices

• Median gross rent: Reported by the ACS. Source: ACS median gross rent.
  Market context: Rental stock in rural counties often centers on small multi-unit buildings in town centers and single-family rentals, with fewer large apartment complexes than urban areas.

Types of housing (single-family homes, apartments, rural lots)

Housing stock is typically dominated by:

• Single-family detached homes in Paxton, Gibson City, and smaller villages
• Farmhouses and rural residences on acreage or along county roads
• Smaller multifamily properties (duplexes, small apartment buildings) primarily in town centers
  The ACS “Units in structure” tables quantify the share of single-family vs multi-unit housing. Source: ACS units in structure.

Neighborhood characteristics (proximity to schools or amenities)

• Town-centered amenities: In county seat and larger towns, schools, parks, and civic services tend to cluster near traditional downtown corridors and along primary state routes; this typically supports shorter in-town travel times to schools and basic services.
• Rural siting: Outside incorporated areas, residences are more dispersed, increasing reliance on school bus transportation and private vehicles for access to groceries, healthcare, and employment.

Property tax overview (average rate and typical homeowner cost)

Illinois property taxes are administered locally and vary by township, municipality, and school district boundaries. For county-level context:

• Effective property tax rates and median tax payments are available through the ACS (median real estate taxes paid for owner-occupied housing units). Source: ACS real estate taxes paid.
• Levy and rate details are tracked by the Illinois Department of Revenue and local taxing bodies; school districts are commonly a major component of total tax bills in downstate counties. Reference: Illinois Department of Revenue property tax resources.
  Data note: A single “average rate” can be misleading because tax burdens vary substantially by taxing district; median taxes paid (ACS) is the most comparable summary measure for typical homeowners.