McDonough County, Illinois Demographics 2026

Name: McDonough County, Illinois Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

McDonough County, Illinois has a population of 26,920, the 50th most populous county in Illinois. The median household income is $52,795 and the median home value is $107,500. The poverty rate is 17.2%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

McDonough County Quick Facts

Population 26,920

Median Household Income $52,795

Median Home Value $107,500

Poverty Rate 17.2%

Unemployment Rate 7.9%

Median Age 34.9 years

Homeownership Rate 63.4%

Affordability Ratio 2.0x

Bachelor's Degree+ 31.4%

High School Graduation 94.2%

Cities/Places 12

Population 26,920 50th of 102

Median Income $52,795 37% lower than state

Poverty Rate 17.2%

Unemployment 7.9%

How McDonough County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	27,102	26,920	-0.7%
Median household income	$50,434	$52,795	+4.7%
Median home value	$103,500	$107,500	+3.9%

Median Household Income

McDonough

$52,795

$83,390

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

McDonough

$107,500

$263,300

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 25.1%

$25K-$50K 21.3%

$50K-$100K 30.0%

$100K+ 23.6%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

8.3%

$10K-$15K

4.9%

$15K-$20K

6.5%

$20K-$25K

5.5%

$25K-$30K

4.6%

$30K-$35K

4.8%

$35K-$40K

3.5%

$40K-$45K

3.5%

$45K-$50K

4.8%

$50K-$60K

8.2%

$60K-$75K

11.5%

$75K-$100K

10.3%

$100K-$125K

8.5%

$125K-$150K

5.1%

$150K-$200K

5.5%

$200K+

4.5%

Employment

7.9% Unemployment Rate State: 5.8%|National: 5.2%

62.3% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 63.4%

Renter 36.6%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.0x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $761/mo 17.3% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

18.0%

18-34

32.1%

35-54

19.4%

55-74

22.2%

75+

8.3%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 61 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in McDonough County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Macomb	14,894	$44,411	25.1%	$103,300
Bushnell	2,677	$67,518	9.8%	$71,900
Colchester	1,128	$63,981	7.8%	$91,700
Blandinsville	666	$52,375	7.9%	$68,800
Industry	569	$51,250	18.8%	$85,300
Plymouth	456	$41,071	24.6%	$56,900
Good Hope	438	$73,636	4.8%	$97,000
Prairie City	378	$60,694	11.9%	$91,500
Adair	215	N/A	20.5%	$90,000
Bardolph	204	$28,750	25.5%	$49,300
Tennessee	160	$77,500	6.4%	$72,200
Sciota	72	$122,639	1.4%	$106,600

Explore Illinois Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

McDonough County is located in Illinois with a total population of 26,920. It is the 50th most populous county out of 102 in Illinois. The county encompasses 12 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in McDonough County is 34.9 years. This is 11% lower than the state median of 39.0 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in McDonough County is $52,795. This is 37% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 35% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 17.2%. This is 46% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 7.9%. This is 35% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $107,500. Housing costs are 59% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x, McDonough County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 63.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% lower than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

McDonough County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.2% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 5.7%. The Black or African American population (5.7%) is well below the state average of 13.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.5%) is well below the state average of 18.8%. The Asian population (2.1%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.

Education

31.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 17% lower than the state rate of 37.9%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.2%. Notably, 15.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for McDonough County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Illinois and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of McDonough County, Illinois?

McDonough County has a population of 26,920, making it the 50th most populous county in Illinois.

What is the median income in McDonough County?

The median household income in McDonough County is $52,795 with a poverty rate of 17.2%.

How many cities are in McDonough County, Illinois?

McDonough County contains 12 Census-designated places.