Richland County
IL · Pop. 15,675 · Suburban County
Richland County sits in Illinois across 360 square miles, home to 15,675 people at 43.5 per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on soybeans, corn, wheat. The median home price is $107,000, with an effective property tax rate of 1.52%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 182-day growing season, average summer highs of 86°F and average winter lows of 22.7°F. Annual rainfall averages 47.4 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Richland Memorial Hospital Inc is 1.7 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 95.8% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is high, tornado risk is high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A median home price of $107,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- Broadband reaches 95.8% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Richland Memorial Hospital Inc, with an emergency room, is just 1.7 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A strong agricultural economy built on soybeans, corn, wheat means local markets, equipment, and know-how are in place.
- A low unemployment rate of 3.7% reflects a stable local job base.
Cons
- Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
- An effective property tax rate of 1.52% is on the higher side and adds to annual carrying costs.
- Flood risk is high, so low-lying parcels deserve careful evaluation before purchase.
At a glance
Richland County, IL is a strong overall fit for homesteading.
- Homestead score
- 71/100
- Median home price
- $107k
- Property tax
- 1.52%
- Growing season
- 182 days (zone 6b)
- Annual rainfall
- 47.4"
- Broadband
- 95.8%
- Nearest hospital
- Richland Memorial Hospital Inc, 1.7 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Richland County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Richland County?
- Richland County is in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 182-day growing season, average summer highs of 86°F, and average winter lows of 22.7°F. The established crops are soybeans, corn, wheat.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $107,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.52%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 95.8% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Richland Memorial Hospital Inc is 1.7 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
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More counties in Illinois
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Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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