Morgan County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Normal · 39.0 | 32,140 people · 52nd most distressed in Illinois
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Morgan County, IL falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 39.0 — 2256th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where income and poverty levels indicate moderate economic strain. Within Illinois, it ranks 52nd of 102 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Morgan County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 59.8 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 59.8
Unemployment Rate 83
Poverty Rate 53
Income vs. State Median 57
Child Poverty Rate 48
Disability Rate 65
Transfer Income Dependency 58
Consumer Credit Distress 40.9
Debt in Collections 50
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 37
Credit Card Delinquency 74
Uninsured Rate 8
Subprime Credit Population 43
Housing Cost Burden 31.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 29
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 16
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 43
Homeownership Rate 64
Legal Distress 27.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 28
Economic Vitality 26.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 11
Rent-to-Income Ratio 12
Business Formation Rate 95
House Price Change (YoY) 15

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Morgan County
Morgan County, IL 39.0 Normal —
Pike County, IL 46.5 Normal +7.5
Sangamon County, IL 43.1 Normal +4.1
Macoupin County, IL 41.1 Normal +2.1
Cass County, IL 36.2 Normal -2.8
Greene County, IL 34.6 Healthy -4.4
Scott County, IL 34.0 Healthy -5.0
Brown County, IL 31.9 Healthy -7.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Morgan County
Schuyler County, NY 39.0 Normal -0.0
Atchison County, KS 39.0 Normal -0.0
Sawyer County, WI 38.9 Normal -0.1
Trinity County, CA 39.2 Normal +0.2
Franklin County, ME 39.2 Normal +0.2

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Morgan County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Morgan County

Find an Attorney

Illinois State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Illinois State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-922-8757

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Morgan County residents at no cost.

Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO)
Legal Aid Chicago (formerly LAF) 312-341-1070
Land of Lincoln Legal Aid 217-525-7151
Prairie State Legal Services 1-800-531-7057
Illinois State Bar Association Lawyer Referral 1-800-922-8757

Self-Help Resources

Illinois Legal Aid Online — Foreclosure Comprehensive self-help guides for Illinois foreclosure
IHDA Homeowner Resources Assistance programs and housing counselor referrals

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Illinois →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Morgan County, Illinois?

    Morgan County has a County Distress Index score of 39.0 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,256th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 52nd in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Morgan County?

    The primary driver of distress in Morgan County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 59.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Morgan County compare to neighboring counties?

    Morgan County (39.0) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Pike County, IL (46.5); Sangamon County, IL (43.1); Macoupin County, IL (41.1).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Normal zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Morgan County's score of 39.0 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

  • What data sources power Morgan County's CDI score?

    Morgan County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Morgan County?

    Morgan County, Illinois has a population of approximately 32,140 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.