In Morgan County, Illinois, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in six dollars of the typical household's income
In Morgan County, 16.5% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 90% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 67% of U.S. counties.
What drives Morgan County's score
In Morgan County, late payments on loans are the highest-scoring part, at 55.1. Housing costs are the lowest part, at 14.9.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Morgan County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Morgan County isn't among the worst-off quarter of U.S. counties on any measure.
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 55.1 of 100
Late payments
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind7.0% · August 202574th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind4.3% · August 202537th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score41.4% · second quarter of 202654th percentile
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- 46.5 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.3% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202660th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working17.9% · 2020 to 202432nd percentile
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- 45.0 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line14.1% · 202457th percentile
- Children below the poverty line14.9% · 202438th percentile
- People with a disability18.3% · 2020 to 202469th percentile
- People without health insurance4.4% · 2020 to 202412th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$67,794 · 202446th percentile
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- 38.6 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector23.1% · August 202549th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people84 · 202527th percentile
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- 14.9 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent12.4% · 2020 to 202420th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income16.5% · fiscal year 20279th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Morgan County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Morgan County, 20.9% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Morgan County
Illinois
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Morgan County, benefit checks' share of income has more than tripled since 1969, reaching 28.4% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Morgan County, Illinois, benefit checks' share of income more than tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 28.4%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Morgan County getting SNAP food aid rose most sharply after its 2012 low, from 11.9% in 2012 to 13.5% in 2013.
The share of households in Morgan County getting SNAP food aid rose from 2009 to 2024, reaching 16.2%
High on the chart: 16.3% in 2018. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Morgan County, Illinois.
How Morgan County has changed
Morgan County's population had its largest drop, from 34,449 in 2014 to 33,168 in 2019.
Morgan County's population fell 10% from 1969 to 2024, reaching its lowest on the chart
High on the chart: 37,578 in 1974. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Morgan County, Illinois.
The number of jobs located in Morgan County had its largest drop, from 16,695 in 2000 to 15,185 in 2005.
The number of jobs located in Morgan County was at its highest on the chart in 2000 and is down 15% since
High on the chart: 16,695 in 2000. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Morgan County, Illinois.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 4.0% | 2025 4.1% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 10.4% | 2024 14.1% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $26,153 | 2024 $67,794 |
The table uses 4.1% for 2025; the score uses 4.3% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Morgan County's history
1823
Formed in 1823 out of Greene and Sangamon Counties. Wikipedia
1980
The county's largest recorded population was the 1980 Census count of 37,502. The 2020 Census counted 32,915, 88% of the peak. Census Bureau
2004
A tornado in May 2004 did $4 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2004
A thunderstorm in May 2004 did $1 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2009
A flash flood in September 2009 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2011
A flash flood in June 2011 did $150 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1973
17 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Morgan County, 10 of them for flooding. FEMA
Morgan County beside its neighbors
Of the seven counties that border Morgan County, five score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Morgan County ranks 3rd of the eight; Greene County is highest, at 29.5%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pike County, IL | 46 | 13.5% | 28.1% |
| Macoupin County, IL | 41 | 10.6% | 28.5% |
| Sangamon County, IL | 39 | 9.7% | 21.5% |
| Cass County, IL | 38 | 12.1% | 26.2% |
| Scott County, IL | 33 | 12.0% | 23.2% |
| Morgan County, IL | 32 | 14.1% | 28.4% |
| Greene County, IL | 30 | 14.0% | 29.5% |
| Brown County, IL | 28 | 13.8% | 21.1% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Morgan County the poorest county in Illinois?
No, Morgan County's poverty rate was 14.1% in 2024, 30th highest of 102 in Illinois (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Alexander County, at 24.8%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Morgan County ranks 59th of 102 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Morgan County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Land of Lincoln Legal Aid
Legal aid
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Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO)
Legal help website
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Morgan County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Morgan County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.