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Fayette County, IL
7 cities and towns and 9 ZIP codes in Fayette County, Illinois.
Population
21,315
Land area
716sq mi
People per sq mi
30
ZIP codes
9
Cities and towns in Fayette County
Fayette County at a glance
- Fayette County is 87% less dense than Illinois as a whole.
- The median household income is $60,944, 27% below the Illinois median of $83,390.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $130,700 (50% below Illinois) and median rent is $798 a month.
- Its largest cities are Vandalia (5,796), St. Elmo (1,257) and Ramsey (1,094).
Local data for Fayette County, IL
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Fayette County, IL, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$60,944
Poverty rate
15.5%
Median home value
$130,700
Prices -3.7% in a year
Median rent
$798/mo
Homeownership
80.6%
Bachelor's or higher
17.2%
Median age
41.9
Average commute
25.5 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (5,553), Irish Americans (2,104), French Americans (540).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
3.9%
Sep 2026, -0.8 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$46,761
4,954 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$49,155
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$123M
FY 2026, $5,747 per person
PPP loans
$31.2M
1,218 loans, 4,334 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$35.5K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Fayette County, IL, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone79.3%
- Carpooled10.4%
- Public transit0.3%
- Walked1.6%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.3%
- Worked from home7.1%
Average one-way commute: 25.5 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Fayette County, IL, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: earthquake
Storm events since 1996
325
Most often thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
2
0.0% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
87° / 21°F
43.7 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone4 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Fayette County, IL, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
39.8%
U.S. 33.3% +6.5 pts
Diabetes
12.7%
U.S. 12.1% +0.6 pts
Smoking
17.4%
U.S. 12.8% +4.6 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
9.8%
U.S. 11.1% -1.3 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Fayette County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Fayette County, IL?
- Vandalia is the largest city or town in Fayette County, with about 5,796 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Fayette County?
- Fayette County includes 9 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 62011, 62080, 62414, 62418, 62458.
- What is the population of Fayette County, IL?
- About 21,315 people live in Fayette County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Fayette County?
- Fayette County borders Marion County, Clinton County, Effingham County, Montgomery County, Shelby County, Bond County, Clay County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023