McDonough County, Illinois: commercial real estate data.
McDonough County, Illinois had an estimated 26,662 residents on July 1, 2024, down 2.2 percent since the 2020 census base of 27,250, across 589 square miles. County output reached $1.46 bn in 2024, 611 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 7 7(a) approvals worth $2.9 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
McDonough County
How many people live in McDonough County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202426,920
- Households11,856
- Average household size2.27
- Median household income$52,795
- Median age34.9
- Median gross rent$761 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$107,500
- Home value to household income2.0 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher31.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree15.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over16,476
- Population under 184,850
- Share under 1818.0 percent
- Population 65 and over5,199
- Share 65 and over19.3 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6416,871
- Civilian labor force14,073
- Unemployment rate7.9 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over63.8 percent
- Rank by population among Illinois counties50th of 102
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1581st of 3,222
McDonough County is the 50th largest of 102 Illinois counties by population. A median home costs 2.0 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 19.3 percent against 18.0 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
McDonough County
Is McDonough County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202426,662
- Census 2020 base population27,250
- Population change since the 2020 census base-2.16 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-290
- Births, 2024268
- Deaths, 2024306
- Natural change, 2024-38
- Net domestic migration, 2024-344
- Net international migration, 202488
- Total net migration, 2024-256
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-426
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2542nd of 3,144
The county has lost 2.16 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. The population fell in 2024 from both sources: deaths exceeded births and more people left than moved in.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
McDonough County
Where are people moving to McDonough County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving673
- People arriving, from those returns1,186
- Tax returns filed by households leaving756
- Net household movement-83
- Adjusted gross income arriving$28.4 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-25.3 m
- Average income of an arriving household$42,259
- Average income of a leaving household$71,083
- Largest single originFulton County (61 households)
- Largest single destinationCook County (57 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fulton County | 61 | 112 | $1.9 m |
| Cook County | 52 | 87 | $1.1 m |
| Hancock County | 35 | 58 | $1.2 m |
| Knox County | 28 | 44 | $1.0 m |
| Schuyler County | 25 | 39 | $972,000 |
| Adams County | 23 | 39 | $661,000 |
| Warren County | 22 | 43 | $1.1 m |
Households arriving report $28,824 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Fulton County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
McDonough County
What is the McDonough County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.46 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.42 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20242.6 percent
- GDP change over five years28.3 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Illinois areas BEA publishes49th of 102
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1539th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$54,053
Output grew 2.6 percent in the latest year and 28.3 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
McDonough County
Employment by industry in McDonough County
- Covered employment, annual average10,119
- Establishments reporting550
- Average annual pay$48,433
- Average weekly wage$931
- Manufacturing, employment1,640
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$57,585
- Retail trade, employment1,156
- Retail trade, average annual pay$32,864
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,033
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$20,332
- Other services, except public administration, employment282
- Other services, except public administration, average annual pay$23,838
- Construction, employment272
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment218
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 1,640 | 17 | $57,585 |
| Retail trade | 1,156 | 73 | $32,864 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,033 | 64 | $20,332 |
| Other services, except public administration | 282 | 56 | $23,838 |
| Construction | 272 | 45 | $96,896 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 218 | 23 | $37,317 |
| Wholesale trade | 216 | 25 | $64,976 |
| Finance and insurance | 190 | 27 | $63,063 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 1,640 jobs, 16.2 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
McDonough County
How many businesses are in McDonough County?
- Establishments, all industries611
- Employment at those establishments8,590
- Annual payroll$369.9 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents22.7
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
McDonough County
Building permits in McDonough County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20241
- Declared construction value permitted$80,000
- Single family units authorized1
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$80,000
- Units authorized per 1,000 households0.1
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
McDonough County
SBA loans in McDonough County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded7
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$2.9 m
- Average 7(a) approval$411,286
- Median 7(a) approval$186,500
- Largest single approval$1,132,500
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)99
- Jobs per approval14.1
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active6
- Distinct industries receiving approvals5
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer28.6 percent
- Loans on real estate terms2
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter4
- Franchise loans2
- Franchise share of approvals28.6 percent
- 504 approvals recorded5
- 504 gross approval dollars$5.0 m
- Average 504 approval$1,008,600
- Median 504 approval$386,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval6.8
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved6.7
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$7.9 m
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
McDonough County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in McDonough County
Do SBA loans in McDonough County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded1
- Paid in full1
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full1
- Status: Cancelled2
- Status: Exempt from disclosure4
Only 1 loan has reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
McDonough County
SBA lending by place in McDonough County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending3
- Macomb, approvals5
- Blandinsville, approvals1
- Colchester, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Macomb | 5 | $1,919,000 |
| Blandinsville | 1 | $800,000 |
| Colchester | 1 | $160,000 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
McDonough County
How large is McDonough County?
- Land area589 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Illinois counties36th of 102
- Width, east to west24.4 mi
- Height, north to south25.1 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land46
- Establishments per square mile1.04
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
McDonough County
Flood risk in McDonough County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community McDonough County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 170999
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book4
- Of those, participating in the NFIP2
- NFIP participation rate50.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in McDonough County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated McDonough County (community 170999), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places McDonough County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 50.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a McDonough County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a McDonough County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202426,920
- Households11,856
- Average household size2.27
- Median household income$52,795
- Median age34.9
Common questions
McDonough County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in McDonough County, Illinois?
The Census Bureau estimates 26,662 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 26,920, in 11,856 households, ranking 50th of 102 Illinois counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is McDonough County's population growing?
The population has fallen 2.16 percent since the 2020 census base of 27,250, to 26,662 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 268 births against 306 deaths, with net migration of -256. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in McDonough County?
$52,795. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $107,500, which is 2.0 times income, and median gross rent is $761 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in McDonough County?
611 establishments, employing 8,590 people with an annual payroll of $369.9 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in McDonough County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 1,640 jobs, 16.2 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 10,119 jobs at an average annual pay of $48,433, or $931 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in McDonough County?
7 7(a) approvals totaling $2.9 m since FY2020, across 6 lenders, with a median approval of $186,500, plus 5 504 approvals worth $5.0 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in McDonough County?
1 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $80,000. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for McDonough County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to McDonough County come from?
The largest single origin is Fulton County, with 61 households. Arriving households report an average income of $42,259 against $71,083 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for McDonough County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for McDonough County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
McDonough County
Cities and places in McDonough.
12 Census places lie wholly or partly in McDonough County. All 12 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macomb | city | 14,894 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Bushnell | city | 2,677 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Colchester | city | 1,128 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Blandinsville | village | 666 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Industry | village | 569 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Plymouth | village | 456 | None recorded | 3.5 percent here, 96.5 percent Hancock County |
| Good Hope | village | 438 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Prairie City | village | 378 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Adair | CDP | 215 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Bardolph | village | 204 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Tennessee | village | 160 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Sciota | village | 72 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
Nearby