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Living in
Decatur.
About
Life in Decatur
The economy is genuinely industrial—this isn't a leisure destination—with heavy manufacturing and agricultural processing providing stable employment through Caterpillar, ADM, and other major employers, though job growth isn't particularly strong. You'll find a solid community infrastructure including 2,000 acres of parkland, a zoo, and recreational facilities that earned the city historical recognition as "Park City USA," plus reasonable access to Springfield and eventually Chicago for weekend trips. Winters are cold and summers humid in this continental climate zone, with weather that's typical for central Illinois.
Decatur at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
19.4%
Foreign-Born
3.1%
Broadband Internet
88.3%
of households
Population Growth
-4.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Decatur: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Decatur, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (18.7%), and 2.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.0%
of residents
65 and Older
21.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
20.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
43.8%
of households
Married Couples
32.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.17
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 34% below IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Decatur
In Decatur, rent runs 34% below the IL average, and home values are 62% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
36.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
17.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
88.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,279
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
62.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1960
median year built
Vacant Homes
14.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $104,647 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.9 pts above IL average
Unemployment in Decatur
Unemployment in Decatur is 1.9 percentage points higher than the IL average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Decatur Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute17.7 min avg
How Decatur residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Decatur, most residents drive alone to work (78%), and 86% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 5 mi
Decatur Airport (DEC)
Regional airport · few flights11k passengers boarded in 2025
- 107 mi
St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
Medium hub7.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 107% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Decatur runs 107% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
681.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,620.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Decatur Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 20 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
83.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Macon County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Macon County, which includes Decatur, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 20 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.0M |
| 2024 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 7 | Hail | None reported |
| 2020 | 10 | Hail | $405,000 |
| 2019 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $61,000 |
| 2018 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $545,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Macon County, county-wide
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Macon County, which includes Decatur, is typically good — 237 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
44
Good Days
237
per year
Moderate Days
125
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Macon County, county-wide
Climate83°F summers, 23°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Decatur has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and cold winters (avg low 23°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
63°/43°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/65°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
37°/23°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
40.4"
Annual Snowfall
13.6"
Hot Days/Year
26
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
110
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
116
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34°F | 20°F | 2.40" |
| Feb | 39°F | 24°F | 2.00" |
| Mar | 51°F | 33°F | 2.64" |
| Apr | 63°F | 43°F | 4.12" |
| May | 74°F | 54°F | 4.95" |
| Jun | 82°F | 63°F | 4.73" |
| Jul | 85°F | 67°F | 4.00" |
| Aug | 84°F | 65°F | 3.50" |
| Sep | 78°F | 57°F | 3.08" |
| Oct | 65°F | 46°F | 3.41" |
| Nov | 50°F | 34°F | 3.21" |
| Dec | 39°F | 25°F | 2.40" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Decatur
Decatur has 2 hospitals, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
4.7%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Decatur Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
St Marys Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education19.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Decatur
Decatur's student/teacher ratio is 19.3:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 21.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
20
within city limits
Private Schools
6
within city limits
College Degree Rate
21.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Decatur
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,382 students · in-state tuition $26,928 · 62% graduate · median earnings $57,738 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Lincoln Home National Historic Site, 38 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Decatur
Decatur has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Lincoln Home National Historic Site (38 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Lincoln Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
38 mi awaySpringfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
38 mi awayPublic Libraries in Decatur
Decatur Public Library
130 North Franklin Street, Decatur
Cities Near Decatur
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Decatur?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Decatur FAQ
Is Decatur, Illinois affordable?⌄
Decatur's median rent is $845/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $51,592/year. Median home value is $99,600.
Is Decatur, Illinois safe?⌄
Decatur's violent crime rate was 682 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2621 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Decatur, Illinois?⌄
Decatur has an unemployment rate of 6.5%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Decatur, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Decatur is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $845/month and median household income is $51,592/year. The median home value is $99,600. About 36% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Decatur, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Decatur is 18 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from