Lee: Economy & Jobs
Earnings in Lee center on a median $82,000 (1.2× higher than Lee County median $70,292; about the same as Illinois median $83,390), with homes at a median value of $150,500. The surrounding county supports 36,272 jobs (avg $56,896).
- $71,774 avg taxable income per return — similar than the median household income (vs Illinois $100,597).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $82,000 — above the Illinois median ($77,902). Poverty rate 19.2% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 53% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 1.8× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 16.1% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 52.6% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 19.2% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 3.4% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $47,760 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $3,427,923 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $71,774 (vs Illinois $100,597) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $86,888 |
| Median Household Income | $82,000 (vs Illinois $77,902) |
| Poverty Rate | 19.2% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | blue_collar |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | upper-middle |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $82,000 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 0.4% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 9% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 9.0% |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Primary Mode | drove alone |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 36,272 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $2,063,716,140 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $56,896 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 6,011,660 |
| Unemployment Rate | 0.4% (vs Illinois 3.9%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 69 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 286,640 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 4,154.20 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Crop Totals, Grain, Corn, Animal Totals, Hogs |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 1,975 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 28,500 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 1,400,034 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 11 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Convenience Stores | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 11 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 40 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 10 |
| Local Businesses · Clothing Stores | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Pet Stores | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Bookstores | 3 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 64 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 84 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 21 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 12 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (9)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (2)
| Nearest Snap · Name | Walmart SUPERCENTER 786 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Distance | 0.2 mi |
Sources: USDA SNAP — nearest by coordinates
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | DEKALB CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INC |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $514,622,998 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 5,124.71 (vs Illinois $6,804) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 100,420 people (vs Illinois 39,460) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 86.5% |
|---|---|
| Pct Walked | 9.0% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 40.2 years (vs Illinois 37.7y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 25.0% |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | older population, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | fair |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12