1st Advantage MortgageThe median Morgan County household earns $66,306, and 13% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Illinois license first.
On this page
- Who lives in Morgan County
- How much Morgan County households make
- What it costs to live in Morgan County
- How Morgan County residents earn a living
- Places inside Morgan County
- Regional comparison for Morgan County
- Debt-to-income at Morgan County's medians
- Before borrowing in Morgan County
- More Morgan County figures
- Checklist for Morgan County applicants
- Lender oversight for Morgan County
- More guides for Morgan County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Morgan County
Roughly 33,021 residents live in Morgan County, Illinois, 44th by population among the state's 102 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 569 square miles, that is close to 58 residents for every square mile of land. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Morgan County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 12 Census places inside Morgan County, Jacksonville leads by population with about 18,014; 10 of the 12 are incorporated.
How much Morgan County households make
At $66,306, the typical Morgan County household income sits near the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 53rd among Illinois's 102 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Morgan County | Gap to Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.6% | +4.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.5% | +7.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.1% | -5.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.8% | -7.1 pts |
About 26% of households earn under $35,000, while 30% clear $100,000. Census counts 13.4% of Morgan County residents in poverty, against 11.8% across Illinois. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.446 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
What it costs to live in Morgan County
Renters in Morgan County pay a median of $722 a month, 43% below the Illinois figure of $1,274. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 33% of renter households here. Home values center on $130,800, or 2.0 years of median income. 73% of Morgan County households own their home and 27% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1965.
| Measure | Morgan County | Illinois | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $722/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $130,800 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 33% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 27% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 6.8% | 2.3% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 13% | 8% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Morgan County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
How Morgan County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 13%. Public administration stands out: 6% of workers here, versus 4% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 10% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 5.5% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Morgan County | Compared with Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.7% | +2.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.9% | +1.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.6% | +1.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.2% | 0.0 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.2% | -0.2 pts |
| Public administration | 6.5% | +2.6 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Morgan County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Places inside Morgan County
The table lists the 12 largest of 12 Census places in Morgan County, by population. Together all 12 hold about 26,509 people, so roughly 20% of residents live outside any named place. Woodson has the highest median household income on the list ($80,750) and Murrayville the lowest ($46,528), counting places with at least 500 residents. This guide covers each of the 12 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville | city | 18,014 | $65,432 | $711 | 2 mi |
| South Jacksonville | village | 3,239 | $49,587 | $647 | 2 mi |
| Waverly | city | 1,375 | $55,671 | $772 | 16 mi |
| Meredosia | village | 871 | $54,485 | $704 | 20 mi |
| Chapin | village | 668 | $72,269 | $1,075 | 11 mi |
| Franklin | village | 650 | $75,714 | $940 | 11 mi |
| Murrayville | village | 617 | $46,528 | $875 | 10 mi |
| Woodson | village | 550 | $80,750 | $932 | 6 mi |
| Alexander | CDP | 239 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
| Concord | village | 162 | $55,893 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Lynnville | village | 85 | $59,375 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Literberry | CDP | 39 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
Regional comparison for Morgan County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (16 to 33 miles). Income ranges from $62,192 in Greene County to $82,176 in Menard County; 5 of these neighbors top Morgan County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morgan County | - | $66,306 | $722/mo | 73% |
| Scott County, IL | 16 mi | $66,705 | $689/mo | 79% |
| Cass County, IL | 18 mi | $68,125 | $723/mo | 76% |
| Greene County, IL | 27 mi | $62,192 | $754/mo | 78% |
| Sangamon County, IL | 29 mi | $75,357 | $983/mo | 71% |
| Menard County, IL | 30 mi | $82,176 | $885/mo | 79% |
| Brown County, IL | 33 mi | $67,917 | $698/mo | 72% |
Debt-to-income at Morgan County's medians
Morgan County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $66,306 a year is $5,526 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $722, takes 13% of that
- At 40%, room after rent is $1,488 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Morgan County's.
Before borrowing in Morgan County
What the Morgan County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
More Morgan County figures
Degree holders: 23% of adults over 25. 4.4% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Morgan County | Illinois | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.1 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.6% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.5% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.4% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.5% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.4% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.4% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 55.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 23.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.3% |
| 60+ min | 3.3% |
Checklist for Morgan County applicants
Quick steps for Morgan County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Illinois borrowers.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Lender oversight for Morgan County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Morgan County resident can confirm its license with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Illinois guide.
More guides for Morgan County
The Illinois guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Morgan County?
$66,306 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $83,390 for Illinois. It ranks 53rd of 102 in the state.
What do renters pay in Morgan County?
$722 a month at the median, about 13% of median household income.
I own my home in Morgan County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 73% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Jacksonville?
Yes, along with the other 11 Census places in Morgan County, such as South Jacksonville, Waverly, Meredosia.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Morgan County or elsewhere in Illinois, the same rules apply.