CensusEasy
COUNTY

McDonough County

Illinois · 25,916 residents (2025 est.) · 589.323 sq mi
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The short version

McDonough County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $52,795. Population has fallen 18% since 2000, a loss of 5,993 residents. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $107,500. At a median age of 34.9, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 37% less than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 34.9
US median: 38.9
Average education
31% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
26,920
−18%since 2000
from 32,913 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
46 / sq mi
−18%since 2009
from 56 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
34.9
+20%since 2000
from 29.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:25,916 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
26K29K31K34K36K1990201020202024McDonough County
202427K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.9%(1,327)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.7%(1,256)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.4%(1,458)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 199.2%(2,474)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 2414.6%(3,929)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.3%(3,040)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410.5%(2,828)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 548.9%(2,385)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6411.2%(3,024)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411%(2,954)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.6%(1,516)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.7%(729)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$52,795
−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,141 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$32,219
+103%since 2000
from $15,890 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
33.9%
+14.9 ptssince 2009
from 19.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
17.2%
−2.6 ptssince 2000
from 19.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.466
+1%since 2010
from 0.462 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information14.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade11.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance5.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade4.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services3.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing2.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$107,500
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $60,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$761
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $393 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
63.5%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 63.1% in 2000
36.5% rent
Vacancy rate
12.7%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 9.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.8%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 20.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
44.1%
−21.6 ptssince 2009
from 65.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.0
−22%since 2009
from 2.6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
22
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in McDonough County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic92%(30,284)
Black3.4%(1,126)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(488)
Asian2%(662)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic85.2%(22,930)
Black5.6%(1,520)
Hispanic / Latino3.5%(944)
Asian2.1%(561)
Other3.6%(965)
Diversity Score
34
+33%since 2009
from 25 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
34
+1%since 2020
from 33 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican2.4%(653)
Puerto Rican0.4%(109)
Peruvian0.1%(25)
Cuban0%(4)
Asian origin
Filipino0.4%(113)
Chinese0.2%(55)
Japanese0.2%(53)
Korean0.1%(40)
Bangladeshi0.1%(15)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0.1%(32)
Ancestry
German19.9%(5,364)
English13.3%(3,588)
Irish12.2%(3,276)
American6.2%(1,657)
Swedish2.8%(767)
Italian2.8%(750)
Dutch2.8%(744)
Polish2.4%(652)
Scottish2.3%(606)
French0.8%(227)
Danish0.7%(198)
+ 29 more ancestry groups with data
Scotch-Irish0.7%(190)
Welsh0.7%(182)
Norwegian0.6%(158)
Nigerian0.4%(112)
British0.3%(76)
Lithuanian0.3%(68)
Finnish0.2%(67)
Swiss0.2%(67)
West Indian0.2%(62)
Russian0.2%(56)
Czech0.1%(35)
Arab0.1%(29)
Belgian0.1%(24)
Greek0.1%(24)
Croatian0.1%(23)
Lebanese0.1%(19)
Australian0.1%(18)
Hungarian0.1%(17)
Ghanaian0.1%(16)
Iranian0.1%(15)
Serbian0%(11)
Slovak0%(5)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest Swedish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
31.4%
+4.5 ptssince 2000
from 26.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.2%
+7.2 ptssince 2000
from 86.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
15.3%
+1.7 ptssince 2000
from 13.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.6 min
+60%since 2000
from 11.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
76.8%
+3.4 ptssince 2009
from 73.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.5%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 8.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.5%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.9%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.6%
−4.9 ptssince 2009
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.8%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
9.4%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.9%
−1.3 ptssince 2011
from 9.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
62.3%
+3.9 ptssince 2011
from 58.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.6%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 18.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
32.8%
−32.0 ptssince 2009
from 64.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
Female
50.9%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
Foreign born
2.7%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.2%
−43.6 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.4%
+4.8 ptssince 2012
from 10.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.4%
−82.8 ptssince 2013
from 90.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.0%
+11.3 ptssince 2017
from 72.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
95.2%
+1.4 ptssince 2016
from 93.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.6%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 1.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married42.6%(4,732)
Married44.6%(4,962)
Widowed3.3%(368)
Divorced9.5%(1,057)
Women 15+
Never married39.4%(4,628)
Married40.6%(4,770)
Widowed10.5%(1,233)
Divorced9.6%(1,129)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Head to head

Compare McDonough County to nearby counties

MCDONOUGH COUNTY VS
Schuyler County
Income$65,948+25%
Home value$109,700+2%
Population6,657−74%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MCDONOUGH COUNTY VS
Fulton County
Income$60,599+15%
Home value$107,200same
Population32,901+27%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MCDONOUGH COUNTY VS
Hancock County
Income$65,865+25%
Home value$113,800+6%
Population16,803−35%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MCDONOUGH COUNTY VS
Warren County
Income$67,385+28%
Home value$105,000−2%
Population16,222−37%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in McDonough County, Illinois?

McDonough County, Illinois has about 26,920 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in McDonough County, Illinois?

The typical household in McDonough County, Illinois earns about $52,795 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is McDonough County, Illinois expensive?

In McDonough County, Illinois, the median home is worth about $107,500, and the typical rent is about $761 a month.

How educated are people in McDonough County, Illinois?

About 31.4% of adults age 25 and over in McDonough County, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in McDonough County, Illinois?

About 17.2% of people in McDonough County, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has McDonough County, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, McDonough County, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 8,324 residents, a change of about -24 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

11 census tracts
Census Tract 104.02Census Tract 107Census Tract 101Census Tract 111Census Tract 109Census Tract 106Census Tract 103Census Tract 110Census Tract 102Census Tract 9800Census Tract 104.01
10 ZIP codes
ZIP 61455ZIP 61422ZIP 62326ZIP 61420ZIP 61440ZIP 61438ZIP 61470ZIP 61411ZIP 61416ZIP 61475
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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