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Morgan County

IL · Pop. 32,621 · Suburban County

52/100Homestead Score

Morgan County is a suburban county in Illinois, spanning 569 square miles with 32,621 residents at a density of 57.3 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on soybeans, corn, hay. The median home price is $129,000, with an effective property tax rate of 1.88%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 6a with a 172-day growing season, average summer highs of 84.8°F and average winter lows of 19.4°F. Annual rainfall averages 39.5 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Passavant Area Hospital is 3.5 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 91.6% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 1.88%
Growing Season: 172 days
Broadband: 91.6%
Density: 57.3/sq mi

Pros

  • A median home price of $129,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
  • Broadband reaches 91.6% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • Passavant Area Hospital, with an emergency room, is just 3.5 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
  • A strong agricultural economy built on soybeans, corn, hay means local markets, equipment, and know-how are in place.

Cons

  • Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
  • Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
  • An effective property tax rate of 1.88% is on the higher side and adds to annual carrying costs.

At a glance

Morgan County, IL is a mixed homesteading prospect — weigh the tradeoffs.

Homestead score
52/100
Median home price
$129k
Property tax
1.88%
Growing season
172 days (zone 6a)
Annual rainfall
39.5"
Broadband
91.6%
Nearest hospital
Passavant Area Hospital, 3.5 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate1.88%
Median Household Income$65,175
Poverty Rate12.5%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$129K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone6a
Growing Season172 days
Annual Rainfall39.5 inches
Avg Summer High84.8°F
Avg Winter Low19.4°F
Top CropsSoybeans, Corn, Hay

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought10/10
Wildfire1/10
Tornado5/10
Flood7/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalPassavant Area Hospital (3.5 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities1

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage91.6%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate4.1%
Ag EconomyStrong

Homesteading in Morgan County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Morgan County?
Morgan County is in USDA hardiness zone 6a with a 172-day growing season, average summer highs of 84.8°F, and average winter lows of 19.4°F. The established crops are soybeans, corn, hay.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $129,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.88%. County-level per-acre prices aren't published, so compare current local listings for raw land.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 91.6% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Passavant Area Hospital is 3.5 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.

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Nearby counties

The closest counties to Morgan County by distance, including across state lines.

Data sources

Verified

Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.