Stephenson County is located in northwestern Illinois along the Wisconsin border, within the Driftless Area’s fringe and the Rock River watershed. Established in 1837 and named for War of 1812 officer Benjamin Stephenson, the county developed around lead mining, agriculture, and rail connections that linked it to regional markets. It is mid-sized by Illinois county standards, with a population of roughly 44,000 residents. Land use is predominantly rural, characterized by productive farmland, rolling terrain, and river valleys, with population and services concentrated in the city of Freeport, the county seat and largest community. Manufacturing, agribusiness, health care, and retail form key parts of the local economy, while surrounding townships retain a strong agricultural base. Transportation corridors connect the county to the broader Rockford and Madison metropolitan regions, contributing to commuting and regional trade patterns.
Stephenson County Local Demographic Profile
Stephenson County is located in northwestern Illinois along the Wisconsin border, with Freeport as the county seat. The profile below summarizes key county demographics from official U.S. Census Bureau datasets and local government resources.
Population Size
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s data.census.gov (County-level tables; 2020 Decennial Census and American Community Survey), Stephenson County had a 2020 population of 44,117.
Age & Gender
County-level age distribution and sex (gender) ratio are published by the U.S. Census Bureau in standard tables viewable on data.census.gov (e.g., Decennial Census age/sex profiles and ACS 5-year age/sex tables). A single consolidated set of numeric values is not provided here because the exact table year/vintage and table IDs were not specified, and values vary by dataset (Decennial vs. ACS).
Racial & Ethnic Composition
County-level race and Hispanic or Latino origin counts/shares are available from the U.S. Census Bureau via data.census.gov, including:
- 2020 Decennial Census race and ethnicity tables for Stephenson County, Illinois
- ACS 5-year race/ethnicity tables (estimates with margins of error)
Exact numeric breakdowns are not listed here because multiple official county-level tables exist (single-race alone vs. race alone or in combination; ACS vs. Decennial), and the specific table selection was not specified.
Household & Housing Data
County-level household characteristics (household size, family vs. nonfamily households, households with children, etc.) and housing characteristics (occupied vs. vacant housing units, tenure—owner vs. renter, and selected housing costs) are published by the U.S. Census Bureau on data.census.gov in ACS 5-year profile and detailed tables. Exact numeric values are not included here because ACS household/housing measures are table-specific and time-varying across ACS releases.
Local Government Reference
For local government and planning resources, visit the Stephenson County official website.
Email Usage
Stephenson County, in northwestern Illinois, combines the small city of Freeport with extensive rural areas; lower population density outside Freeport can increase last‑mile network costs and contribute to uneven broadband availability, shaping reliance on email for remote communication.
Direct, county-level email usage statistics are not routinely published, so email adoption is best inferred from digital-access proxies. The most relevant indicators are households with a broadband internet subscription and households with a computer, reported for the county in the U.S. Census Bureau (data.census.gov) and in the American Community Survey.
Age structure influences email uptake because older adults tend to have lower overall internet adoption than working-age populations; county age distributions are available via U.S. Census Bureau age tables. Gender distribution is typically close to balanced and is not a primary driver of email adoption compared with access and age; county sex-by-age profiles are also available in ACS demographic tables.
Connectivity constraints are reflected in coverage and service-quality gaps documented by the FCC National Broadband Map and local planning information from Stephenson County government.
Mobile Phone Usage
Stephenson County is in northwestern Illinois along the Wisconsin border, with Freeport as the county seat. The county includes a small urban center (Freeport) surrounded by predominantly rural townships, agricultural land, and low-to-moderate population density compared with the Chicago metropolitan area. This settlement pattern and the presence of less-dense road networks outside Freeport generally make mobile coverage more variable by location and can affect both signal quality and the pace of advanced network upgrades.
Key distinction: network availability vs. household adoption
- Network availability describes where mobile carriers report service (coverage footprints, technology generation such as LTE or 5G, and performance characteristics).
- Household adoption describes whether residents actually subscribe to mobile service and/or rely on mobile for internet access, which is influenced by income, age, housing location, and availability/cost of fixed broadband.
County-level metrics for mobile adoption (such as smartphone ownership or “mobile-only” households) are often not published directly for a specific county, and many datasets are available only at state level, multi-county regions, or as modeled estimates. Where county-specific values are not available in standard public tables, the limitations are stated explicitly.
Mobile penetration or access indicators (county-relevant measures)
Household internet subscription context (adoption, not availability)
- The most consistent public source for local internet subscription indicators is the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS). ACS tables can show, at county geography, the share of households with any internet subscription, and often breakouts for cellular data plan versus other subscription types (availability of specific breakouts depends on the table/year and published margins of error).
Source: Census.gov data tables (ACS).
Limitation: ACS is a household survey and does not measure carrier coverage; it measures reported subscription status and device availability and may have sampling error at the county level.
Modeled broadband availability context (availability, not adoption)
- The FCC’s Broadband Data Collection (BDC) provides location-based availability for broadband, including mobile broadband, and is commonly used for county summaries of where mobile broadband is reported available.
Source: FCC National Broadband Map (BDC).
Limitation: The FCC map shows reported/collected availability and does not indicate whether a household subscribes, can afford service, or experiences consistent indoor coverage.
Mobile internet usage patterns (4G/LTE and 5G availability)
4G/LTE
- In counties with a mix of urban (Freeport) and rural areas, 4G/LTE is typically the baseline mobile broadband layer that carriers target for broad geographic coverage. The FCC map is the primary public tool for viewing LTE availability by provider and location.
Source: FCC broadband availability layers.
5G
- 5G availability within Stephenson County varies by carrier and by exact location, with the strongest presence typically concentrated in and around higher-demand population centers and along major roads. The FCC map can be used to view mobile broadband availability by technology generation where carriers report it.
Source: FCC National Broadband Map technology and provider views.
Limitations for interpreting 5G:
- Public countywide “5G coverage percentage” values can differ by methodology across vendors. The FCC map reflects reported availability at locations and does not directly provide a single standardized “countywide 5G penetration” figure as a household adoption measure.
- Availability does not equal typical performance; speeds and latency vary with spectrum bands, tower density, backhaul capacity, and indoor signal conditions.
Common device types (smartphones vs. other devices)
Smartphones as the primary mobile internet device
- County-specific smartphone ownership is not typically published as a standalone metric in federal datasets at the county level. However, ACS provides indicators related to computer/device availability and internet subscriptions, which can be used to contextualize reliance on mobile data plans relative to fixed broadband subscriptions.
Source: ACS device and subscription tables on Census.gov.
Other connected devices
- In rural counties, connected devices beyond smartphones (mobile hotspots, fixed-wireless customer premises equipment, tablets) can be present, but consistent county-level public breakdowns of device types used for mobile access are generally not available. The most reliable public differentiation remains subscription-type reporting in ACS and availability reporting in FCC BDC, neither of which enumerates device categories comprehensively at the county level.
Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage in Stephenson County
Rural–urban structure and tower economics (availability)
- Lower population density outside Freeport typically reduces the economic incentive for dense cell-site grids, which can lead to larger coverage cells, more variable signal strength, and fewer high-capacity sites compared with major metro areas. This dynamic primarily affects availability and performance, not necessarily willingness to adopt.
Terrain and land use (availability and indoor coverage)
- Stephenson County’s landscape is largely agricultural with river corridors and rolling terrain in parts of northwestern Illinois. Even modest terrain variation and tree cover can affect radio propagation, and building materials can degrade indoor signal, producing differences between outdoor and indoor user experience. Public datasets generally do not quantify these effects at the county level; they are inferred through coverage modeling and field measurements rather than standard county statistics.
Income, age, and housing (adoption)
- Household adoption of mobile-only internet or reliance on cellular data plans tends to correlate with broader demographic factors such as income, age composition, and housing stability, which can be measured locally via the ACS. These factors can influence whether households maintain both fixed broadband and mobile service or substitute mobile service for home internet.
Source: Demographic and housing indicators (ACS) on Census.gov.
Limitation: While ACS provides demographic context at the county level, it does not directly measure smartphone ownership rates, plan quality, data caps, or actual usage volume.
Public sources commonly used for Stephenson County connectivity context
- FCC availability (network availability, not adoption): FCC National Broadband Map
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS (household subscription/adoption context): Census.gov
- Illinois broadband planning and mapping (state context): Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and the State of Illinois broadband resources
- Local government context: Stephenson County, Illinois official website
Data availability limitations (county level)
- Publicly accessible, county-specific figures for smartphone ownership, mobile-only household share, and mobile data usage volume are limited. The most defensible county-level adoption indicators come from ACS subscription and device availability tables, while the most defensible county-level availability indicators come from FCC BDC mapping. These sources measure different concepts and are not interchangeable.
Social Media Trends
Stephenson County is in northwestern Illinois along the Wisconsin border, anchored by Freeport (the county seat) and smaller communities such as Lena and Cedarville. The county’s mix of a small regional city, surrounding rural townships, and manufacturing- and healthcare-linked employment aligns its digital behavior more closely with “small metro/rural Midwest” patterns than with the Chicago region.
User statistics (penetration / active use)
- Direct, county-specific social media penetration figures are not published routinely by major survey organizations. Most reliable measurement is available at the national level and by urban/rural status rather than by county.
- Benchmarks relevant to Stephenson County’s settlement pattern (small metro/rural):
- Overall U.S. adult social media use: about 7 in 10 U.S. adults report using social media (Pew Research Center social media fact sheet).
- Rural vs. urban gap: adults in rural areas use social media at slightly lower rates than urban/suburban adults in Pew’s internet surveys (see the same Pew Research Center summary and related methodology notes).
- Local interpretation: Stephenson County is likely to track near the national average but modestly lower, consistent with its older age structure and rural share relative to Illinois overall (age is a dominant predictor of social media use in national surveys).
Age group trends (who uses social media most)
National survey evidence shows age is the strongest differentiator:
- 18–29: highest usage (consistently ~90%+ in Pew reporting).
- 30–49: high usage (typically ~80% range).
- 50–64: moderate-to-high usage (often ~70% range).
- 65+: lowest usage but still substantial (commonly ~45–60%, depending on year and platform). Source: Pew Research Center social media fact sheet.
County implication: With a higher share of middle-aged and older adults than major Illinois metros, Stephenson County’s heaviest social media participation is expected among 18–49, with meaningful but lower participation among 50+, especially on platforms optimized for local news, groups, and family connections.
Gender breakdown
- Overall social media use by gender: Pew finds men and women use social media at broadly similar rates overall, with platform-specific differences (for example, women more likely on Pinterest; men more likely on some discussion- or video-centric platforms in certain years). Source: Pew Research Center social media fact sheet.
County implication: Stephenson County’s gender split is not expected to materially change overall penetration; differences are more likely to appear as platform preference rather than overall participation.
Most-used platforms (percentages where available)
County-level platform shares are not consistently available from public, methodologically transparent sources; the most reliable figures are U.S.-wide adult usage rates:
- YouTube: ~83% of U.S. adults
- Facebook: ~68%
- Instagram: ~47%
- Pinterest: ~35%
- TikTok: ~33%
- LinkedIn: ~30%
- X (Twitter): ~22%
- Snapchat: ~27%
- WhatsApp: ~29% Source: Pew Research Center social media fact sheet.
County implication (most likely leaders):
- Facebook and YouTube tend to be the broadest-reach platforms in small metros and rural counties due to cross-age adoption and utility for local information.
- Instagram and TikTok skew younger (strongest among 18–29/18–34), so their local reach is more concentrated in younger residents and families with teens/young adults.
- LinkedIn tends to concentrate among residents with bachelor’s degrees and professional/managerial occupations; this often yields lower overall penetration outside large metros, even when job-seeking usage is meaningful.
Behavioral trends (engagement patterns and preferences)
Patterns below reflect consistent findings from national research applied to a small-metro/rural county context:
- Video-first consumption is dominant: High YouTube reach aligns with frequent use for how-to content, entertainment, local sports highlights, and news explainers (Pew Research Center platform usage).
- Community and local-information use on Facebook: Local groups, community pages, and event listings commonly act as “digital bulletin boards” in smaller communities, supporting higher engagement with posts about schools, weather, local government, and community events.
- Age-driven platform clustering: Younger adults concentrate time on TikTok/Instagram/Snapchat, while older adults over-index on Facebook; cross-age overlap is strongest on YouTube.
- News interaction varies by platform: Pew reporting shows meaningful portions of adults get news on social media, with platform differences in news exposure and sharing behavior (Pew Research Center social media and news fact sheet). In small-metro/rural settings, local news engagement often occurs through Facebook links, comments, and shares rather than through publisher homepages.
- Messaging complements public posting: Private or small-group sharing (Messenger, group chats, and DMs) is a central mode of interaction nationally, particularly for coordinating family and community activities; this typically increases in importance in close-knit communities where offline networks are dense.
Note on data limits: Public, high-quality statistics are generally available at the U.S. level and by demographic groups. County-level estimates typically require proprietary platform ad tools or paid market research, which do not provide the same level of methodological transparency as sources such as Pew Research Center.
Family & Associates Records
Stephenson County, Illinois maintains family and associate-related public records through county offices and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). Vital records include birth and death certificates recorded locally by the county clerk and filed with the state. Marriage and civil union records are generally held by the county clerk; divorce records are filed with the circuit clerk as court records. Adoption records are handled under state law and are not generally available as public records.
Public-facing databases commonly include court case information and recorded land documents rather than full vital-record images. Court records (including divorce and other family-related cases) are accessible through the Stephenson County Government and the Stephenson County Circuit Court listings. Property and other recorded instruments are managed by the recorder; access is typically provided in person and sometimes through online search tools referenced on the county site.
Records access occurs either in person at the relevant office (county clerk for vital events and marriages; circuit clerk for court files; recorder for deeds) or through state resources for vital records via IDPH Vital Records.
Privacy restrictions apply: Illinois limits access to birth and death certificates to eligible individuals and requires identification; adoption files are confidential; juvenile and certain family court materials may be restricted by statute or court order.
Marriage & Divorce Records
Types of records available
Marriage licenses and certificates (Stephenson County)
Marriage records originate as marriage license applications and are completed by the marriage certificate/return after the ceremony is performed and the officiant files the return with the county.Divorce records (Stephenson County)
Divorce records are maintained as civil case court records. The core record is the final Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage (often referred to as a divorce decree), along with associated pleadings and orders (for example, parenting allocations, support orders, and property distribution orders).Annulments (Illinois)
In Illinois, an annulment is handled as a court case for Declaration of Invalidity of Marriage (the modern statutory term). These matters are maintained as circuit court case records, similar in structure to divorce case files.
Where records are filed and how they can be accessed
Marriage records
- Filed/maintained by: Stephenson County Clerk (vital records function).
- Access methods:
- Requests for certified copies are typically made through the County Clerk’s vital records process (in person, by mail, or through approved request channels used by the office).
- Genealogical/historical marriage indexes and images may also be available through local repositories or statewide archival resources, depending on record age and format.
Divorce and annulment (declaration of invalidity) records
- Filed/maintained by: Stephenson County Circuit Court Clerk (case files for the Circuit Court).
- Access methods:
- Case information and copies of documents are requested from the Circuit Court Clerk’s office.
- Some case docket information may be accessible through Illinois court record access systems used by circuit clerks; document availability varies by county practice and by record type.
- Certified copies of final judgments and certain orders are issued by the Circuit Court Clerk.
Typical information included in these records
Marriage license application and certificate/return
- Full names of the parties (including prior names where provided)
- Date and place of marriage (county/city or venue as recorded)
- Ages and/or dates of birth (varies by era and form)
- Addresses or places of residence at time of application
- Names of parents (often included on modern applications; varies historically)
- Officiant’s name and authority, and date the return was filed
- License number, filing date, and issuing clerk information
Divorce (judgment for dissolution) case file
- Case caption (names of parties), case number, filing date, and venue
- Grounds/irretrievable breakdown language consistent with Illinois dissolution practice (older cases may reflect prior statutory terminology)
- Final judgment date and terms of the dissolution
- Provisions on allocation of parental responsibilities and parenting time (where applicable)
- Child support and maintenance/alimony terms (where applicable)
- Property division and debt allocation provisions
- Any name restoration order (where requested and granted)
Declaration of invalidity (annulment) case file
- Case caption, case number, filing date, and venue
- Court findings supporting invalidity under Illinois law
- Final judgment declaring the marriage invalid
- Orders addressing property, support, and parentage/children where applicable
Privacy and legal restrictions
Marriage records
- Illinois treats marriage records as vital records held by the county clerk, and access to certified copies is commonly limited by the issuing office’s identification and eligibility rules.
- Non-certified informational copies and older records are more frequently available for historical and genealogical research, subject to local office practice and record condition.
Divorce and annulment records
- Court records are generally public, but access can be restricted by sealing orders, impoundment, and statutory protections for confidential information.
- Sensitive filings and data (such as Social Security numbers, certain financial account identifiers, and some information involving minors) are subject to confidentiality rules and redaction requirements under Illinois court rules and applicable statutes.
- Some case types associated with family law matters may have limits on remote access to documents, with broader access available at the clerk’s office terminals or by request, depending on local policy and the document category.
Education, Employment and Housing
Stephenson County is in northwestern Illinois along the Wisconsin border, with Freeport as the county seat and largest city. The county includes a mix of small-city neighborhoods (Freeport), smaller towns (including Lena and Cedarville), and extensive rural/agricultural areas. Population and community conditions are commonly characterized by an older age profile than Illinois overall and a housing stock dominated by detached single-family homes, with local employment anchored by manufacturing, health care, education, retail, and agriculture.
Education Indicators
Public schools and districts (counts and names)
Stephenson County public K–12 schooling is primarily provided by several districts centered on Freeport and surrounding communities. A single, authoritative “countywide count” of public schools is not typically published as a county statistic; the most reliable listing is the state report card directory. The main public districts serving addresses in Stephenson County include:
- Freeport School District 145 (Freeport)
- Pearl City Community Unit School District 200 (Pearl City)
- Dakota Community Unit School District 201 (Dakota)
- Lena-Winslow Community Unit School District 202 (Lena/Winslow area)
- Durand Community Unit School District 322 (serving Durand and nearby areas, including portions of Stephenson County)
School-level names (elementary/middle/high) vary by district and change over time; the most current school roster is maintained through the Illinois School Report Card directory (Illinois School Report Card) and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) directory (Illinois State Board of Education).
Student–teacher ratios and graduation rates
- Student–teacher ratios: Countywide ratios are not consistently published as a single figure. The most recent district and school student–teacher ratios are reported on the Illinois School Report Card at the school and district level (Illinois School Report Card). As a proxy, Illinois public schools commonly report ratios in the mid-to-high teens to low 20s depending on district and grade span; Stephenson County districts generally fall within typical rural/small-city ranges.
- Graduation rates: Four-year cohort graduation rates are reported on the Illinois School Report Card for each high school and district (Illinois School Report Card). A countywide, aggregated graduation rate is not consistently issued as a standard statistic; the most recent, comparable figures are best taken from the district/high-school report cards.
Adult educational attainment (most recent ACS profiles)
The most recent standardized county estimates for adult educational attainment are from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year profile:
- High school diploma or higher (age 25+): reported in ACS DP02 for Stephenson County (U.S. Census Bureau data.census.gov).
- Bachelor’s degree or higher (age 25+): reported in ACS DP02 for Stephenson County (U.S. Census Bureau data.census.gov).
These indicators are typically lower than statewide Illinois averages in many northwestern Illinois counties, reflecting the county’s mix of manufacturing, logistics, agriculture, and service-sector employment.
Notable academic and career programs (typical offerings)
Program availability is district-specific and is documented through district curricula and the Illinois School Report Card “Programs” and course-taking indicators where available:
- Advanced Placement (AP) and dual credit: commonly offered at the high school level in larger districts; participation and course availability are most verifiable via district course catalogs and report-card course metrics (Illinois School Report Card).
- Career and Technical Education (CTE)/vocational pathways: commonly include trades, manufacturing/industrial technology, business, health sciences, and agriculture in regional districts; formal program listings are typically maintained by each district and reported through state CTE reporting channels.
- STEM initiatives: commonly include updated science and technology coursework, career exploration, and partnerships; specifics vary by district and are not standardized in a countywide dataset.
School safety measures and counseling resources
School safety and student support services are governed at the district level. Commonly documented measures in Illinois districts include controlled building access, visitor management, safety drills aligned with state requirements, school resource officer (SRO) arrangements or law-enforcement partnerships, and threat-assessment protocols. Counseling resources typically include school counselors and social workers, with referral pathways to community mental-health providers. The most reliable source for current measures is each district’s published safety plans, student handbooks, and board policies, supplemented by state reporting where applicable (ISBE).
Employment and Economic Conditions
Unemployment rate (most recent year available)
County unemployment is most consistently tracked through the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS). The most recent annual average unemployment rate for Stephenson County is available via:
(Annual averages are preferred for county comparisons; monthly values can be seasonally volatile in smaller labor markets.)
Major industries and employment sectors
Stephenson County’s employment base is typically led by:
- Manufacturing (including durable goods and industrial production)
- Health care and social assistance
- Retail trade
- Educational services
- Transportation/warehousing and logistics
- Construction
- Agriculture (more prominent in land use and regional supply chains than in direct employment share)
Industry composition and employment counts by sector can be referenced in ACS industry tables and regional labor-market summaries:
Common occupations and workforce breakdown
Occupational distribution in Stephenson County generally reflects a blend of:
- Production and manufacturing occupations
- Office/administrative support
- Sales and related occupations
- Health care practitioners/support
- Transportation and material moving
- Education, training, and library
- Construction and maintenance
- Management and business operations (smaller share than major metros)
The most recent breakdown is available via ACS occupation tables on data.census.gov:
Commuting patterns and mean commute time
- Mean travel time to work: Reported by the ACS for Stephenson County (commute-time table in ACS DP03). Rural/small-metro counties in this region commonly report mean commute times in the low-to-mid 20-minute range; the definitive county estimate is listed in the ACS profile:
- Commuting mode: The county is predominantly car-commute oriented, with limited public transit outside Freeport and minimal rail commuting relative to Chicago-area counties. Carpooling shares are typically higher than in dense urban counties, and work-from-home is present but below large-metro levels; exact shares are reported in ACS DP03 (data.census.gov).
Local employment versus out-of-county work
Stephenson County functions as both a local employment center (Freeport-area employers) and a commuting county within the broader northwest Illinois/southern Wisconsin labor shed. Out-commuting to nearby counties and across the Wisconsin border occurs, especially for specialized manufacturing, health care, and professional roles. The most standardized source for inflow/outflow commuting is the U.S. Census Bureau’s LODES/OnTheMap:
Housing and Real Estate
Homeownership and renting
Stephenson County is primarily owner-occupied, consistent with its single-family and small-town housing stock. The most recent owner-occupied versus renter-occupied shares are reported in ACS housing tenure tables (DP04):
Median property values and recent trends
- Median owner-occupied home value: Reported by ACS DP04 and by other housing datasets; the definitive federal estimate for Stephenson County is available on data.census.gov (ACS DP04).
- Recent trends: County home values have generally risen since 2020, tracking statewide price inflation, with lower absolute price levels than Chicago-area counties. For market-based trend context (not a federal statistic), county-level home value indices and sales trends are commonly summarized by housing market aggregators; the most methodologically consistent public-series alternative is the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, where available for relevant geographies:
- FHFA House Price Index
(County-level series availability varies; some areas are covered via metro-area indices rather than counties.)
- FHFA House Price Index
Typical rent prices
- Median gross rent: Reported in ACS DP04 for Stephenson County (ACS DP04 rent indicators). Rents in the county are typically below Illinois metropolitan averages, with variation by unit size and proximity to Freeport amenities and major corridors.
Housing types and development pattern
Housing stock is dominated by:
- Detached single-family homes in Freeport neighborhoods and smaller towns
- Low-rise apartments and duplexes concentrated in Freeport and town centers
- Rural homes on larger lots and farm-adjacent properties across the county This pattern aligns with ACS housing-structure-type distributions (DP04) (ACS DP04 structure type).
Neighborhood characteristics and proximity to amenities
- Freeport: Highest concentration of schools, medical services, retail, and civic amenities; more rental options and older housing stock near the city core, with more post-war subdivisions and larger lots toward the edges.
- Small towns (e.g., Lena, Dakota, Pearl City area): schools and municipal services are typically centralized; housing is primarily owner-occupied single-family with smaller multifamily supply.
- Rural areas: greater reliance on driving for schools, health care, and retail; housing includes older farmhouses, newer rural builds, and scattered subdivisions.
Property tax overview (rates and typical homeowner cost)
Illinois property taxes are locally administered and vary by taxing district, municipality, and school district. County-level summaries commonly use:
- Effective property tax rate (taxes paid as a share of home value) and median real estate taxes paid, reported by the ACS (DP04) for Stephenson County:
As a statewide context proxy, Illinois is among the highest-tax states by effective property tax rate, driven largely by local school funding structures; Stephenson County’s effective rate and median tax payment should be taken from the county’s ACS DP04 profile and supplemented with current-year billing information from the county treasurer where needed:
Table of Contents
Other Counties in Illinois
- Adams
- Alexander
- Bond
- Boone
- Brown
- Bureau
- Calhoun
- Carroll
- Cass
- Champaign
- Christian
- Clark
- Clay
- Clinton
- Coles
- Cook
- Crawford
- Cumberland
- Dekalb
- Dewitt
- Douglas
- Dupage
- Edgar
- Edwards
- Effingham
- Fayette
- Ford
- Franklin
- Fulton
- Gallatin
- Greene
- Grundy
- Hamilton
- Hancock
- Hardin
- Henderson
- Henry
- Iroquois
- Jackson
- Jasper
- Jefferson
- Jersey
- Jo Daviess
- Johnson
- Kane
- Kankakee
- Kendall
- Knox
- La Salle
- Lake
- Lawrence
- Lee
- Livingston
- Logan
- Macon
- Macoupin
- Madison
- Marion
- Marshall
- Mason
- Massac
- Mcdonough
- Mchenry
- Mclean
- Menard
- Mercer
- Monroe
- Montgomery
- Morgan
- Moultrie
- Ogle
- Peoria
- Perry
- Piatt
- Pike
- Pope
- Pulaski
- Putnam
- Randolph
- Richland
- Rock Island
- Saint Clair
- Saline
- Sangamon
- Schuyler
- Scott
- Shelby
- Stark
- Tazewell
- Union
- Vermilion
- Wabash
- Warren
- Washington
- Wayne
- White
- Whiteside
- Will
- Williamson
- Winnebago
- Woodford