RANK #95 / 996 · POP 196,122 · IL
PROJECTED GROWTH: +3.0%
Sangamon County, Illinois, is defined by its connection to Abraham Lincoln, with Springfield, the county seat and state capital, offering numerous historical sites related to the 16th president. Located in central Illinois, the county is about a three-hour drive from major cities like St. Louis, Chicago, and Indianapolis. Commutes within the county are generally easy. The community offers a blend of urban amenities in Springfield and more rural environments in surrounding towns like Chatham, Sherman, and Rochester. Outdoor recreation is available at Lake Springfield for boating and fishing, and at various parks and trails, including Carpenter Park Nature Preserve along the Sangamon River, which offers hiking and wildlife observation.
Life in Sangamon County is characterized by an affordable cost of living. The area attracts families and young professionals, with public schools generally performing above average. The economy is supported by sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, and professional services. Recent economic developments include investments in data centers and energy infrastructure, alongside plans to expand downtown Springfield's convention capacity and add a new hotel to boost tourism. These initiatives aim to strengthen the tax base and create jobs across the region.
Above national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing looks undervalued at 2.6x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Lincoln Land Energy Center (Natural Gas Power Plant)
EmberClear
|
$1,000M | Planned |
|
Double Black Diamond Solar Farm
Swift Current Energy
|
$800M | Operating |
|
CyrusOne Data Center Campus
CyrusOne
|
$500M | Proposed |
|
Grand Prairie Energy Park (Wind Farm)
UKA Group
|
$450M | Proposed |
|
Bridgeland Solar (formerly Sangamon Solar)
AES Corporation / Sangamon Solar LLC
|
$100M | Planned |
|
Iron Bridge Road Overpass and Woodside Road Underpass
Sangamon County (Freesen, a division of UCM, Inc.)
|
$53M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Sangamon County has a Boom Town Index score of 91/100, ranking #95 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +4.7% and a median household income of $71,653, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in Sangamon County is $162,400 with median rent at $927/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.4412, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: -0.3% year-over-year. Job growth: +4.7%. Home values changed +8.5% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 2.21% of Sangamon County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.