RANK #546 / 1001 NAT · #21 / 28 IL · POP 54,947
1YR FORECAST: +1.6%
5YR OUTLOOK: +17%
Fulton, Illinois, in Whiteside County, stands out with its authentic Dutch windmill, "de Immigrant," a working landmark built in the Netherlands and reassembled in Fulton, celebrating the town's Dutch heritage. Located in northwestern Illinois, Whiteside County is bordered by the Mississippi River to the west and intersected by the Rock River. The county seat, Morrison, is roughly 120 miles west of Chicago, offering a quieter community feel with access to larger urban centers via Interstate 88. Outdoor recreation includes extensive opportunities for hiking, biking, fishing, and boating along the Rock River and within the Whiteside County Forest Preserve system.
Life in Whiteside County often appeals to families and retirees, with many residents owning their homes. Public schools in the county are generally above average. Commute options within the county are supported by Whiteside County Public Transportation, which provides curb-to-curb service. The local economy is driven by sectors such as agribusiness, manufacturing, and logistics, with ongoing investments in infrastructure and energy projects. The county has been recognized for its overall health and well-being, reflecting a focus on community vitality.
Whiteside County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +4.0% YoY, population -0.4%, wages +0.3%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Below national median (11.3x)
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing is fairly valued at 6.3x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Whiteside County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Garden Plain 138 kV Battery Project
Undisclosed
|
$365M | Planned |
|
Gipper Wind Farm
Scout Clean Energy
|
$191M | Planned |
|
Broadband Fiber Deployment
JCE Co-op (formerly Jo-Carroll Energy Co-op)
|
$121M | Under Construction |
|
Community Solar Portfolio (Multiple Projects)
Various (e.g., Engie North America, Generate Capital)
|
$50M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Whiteside County scores 45/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#546). Median household income is $67,500 and job growth is running at -4.3%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
By national standards, Whiteside County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $127,100, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.53 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $856/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Whiteside County's job market is contracting (-4.3% YoY) while population is roughly stable (-0.4% change). Home values are +4.0% over the past 12 months. Hiring headwinds without an offsetting exodus — residents are staying, but local employers are shedding payroll.
Not particularly — 1.32% of Whiteside County's population moved in from another state, which is below the national average. Most residents are long-term locals rather than recent transplants.