RANK #82 / 1001 NAT · #7 / 28 IL · POP 194,947
1YR FORECAST: +3.1%
5YR OUTLOOK: +24%
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.
Sangamon County is one of 145 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +7.9% runs above the profile's typical +4.9%.
See all 145 Heartland Steady Growth counties →Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks undervalued at 3.6x — 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.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Sangamon County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| 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 1001 counties.
Sangamon County ranks #82 out of 1001 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 92/100. The composite score reflects long-term strength — housing, income, and migration patterns — but near-term hiring is soft (employment is down 2.6% year-over-year). Median household income here is $75,357.
By national standards, Sangamon County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $176,300, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.43 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $983/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Sangamon County's job market is contracting (-2.6% YoY) while population is roughly stable (-0.1% change). Home values are +7.9% over the past 12 months. Hiring headwinds without an offsetting exodus — residents are staying, but local employers are shedding payroll.
Not particularly — 1.74% of Sangamon County's population moved in from another state, which is below the national average. Most residents are long-term locals rather than recent transplants.
Home values climbed +7.9% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Sangamon County is now valued at $176,300. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.