Decatur
RANK #27 / 996 NAT · #5 / 28 IL · POP 103,542
1YR FORECAST: +5.4%
5YR OUTLOOK: +42%
Macon County, Illinois, often called "The Heart of Illinois," is distinguished by its central location and historical ties to Abraham Lincoln, who resided there in 1830. The county seat, Decatur, is approximately 40-50 miles from larger hubs like Springfield and Bloomington, with Chicago and St. Louis about a three-hour drive away. Public transportation includes the Decatur Public Transit System and SHOW Bus, offering both urban and rural routes. The flat landscape, a result of glacial activity, is home to over 3,600 acres of conservation areas, including Rock Springs Nature Center, providing opportunities for hiking, bird watching, and other outdoor activities.
Life in Macon County offers an affordable lifestyle, with a cost of living below the national average. The community tends to be conservative, with many residents owning their homes. Families have access to public schools, including top-ranked Mt. Zion Elementary and High School. The economy is experiencing developments in sectors such as advanced manufacturing, industrial biotechnology, and food ingredients, with major investments in clean energy and agricultural processing. Tourism also contributes to the local economy, with events like the Farm Progress Show drawing visitors.
Well below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing looks undervalued at 1.8x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Broadwing Energy Plant with Carbon Capture
Warwick Carbon Solutions (in partnership with ADM and Google)
|
$500M | Under Construction |
|
Macon County Solar Project
Doral LLC
|
$345M | Planned |
|
Rebuild Illinois Infrastructure Projects (Macon County Portion)
Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT)
|
$195M | Under Construction |
|
Leghorn 345 kV Solar Project
Undisclosed
|
$180M | Planned |
|
Rockies Express Pipeline (REX) Decatur Lateral
Rockies Express Pipeline LLC (REX) / Tallgrass
|
$115M | Planned |
|
Faraday Battery Storage Project
Undisclosed
|
$100M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Macon County ranks #27 out of 996 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 97/100. The composite score reflects long-term strength — housing, income, and migration patterns — but near-term hiring is soft (employment is down 1.0% year-over-year). Median household income here is $59,622.
By national standards, Macon County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $119,800, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.50 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $774/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Macon County is losing population (-0.8% YoY) while the job market is essentially flat (-1.0% employment change). Home values are +8.3% over the past 12 months. A slow-bleed pattern — not a collapse, but residents are leaving faster than employers are hiring.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.56% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Macon County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.
Home values climbed +8.3% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Macon County is now valued at $119,800. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.