The Town FilesDecatur, Illinois
City in Macon County · population 70,522 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $99,600
- Household income
- $51,592
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 58
- Median age
- 39.2
Decatur is a city of 70,522 people in Macon County, Illinois. The median home is worth $99,600, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more walkable than 80% of Illinois towns, hipper than 80% of Illinois towns, more vibrant than 75% of Illinois towns.
How Decatur ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Decatur is worth $99,600, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $51,592, which is more affordable than 68% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $845 a month. 62.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Decatur | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $99,600 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $845 | $960 |
| Median household income | $51,592 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 62.9% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Decatur
| People | Decatur | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.2 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.3% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.4% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.1% | — |
| Work from home | 8.4% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 17.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.3% | 90.4% |
Weather in Decatur
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 19.7°F. About 40.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.6 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 26 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 110 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
58 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Decatur since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 20, 1976 about 8.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 108 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 10, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 72 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on June 23, 1960.
Severe weather in Macon County since 1996
Macon County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4728: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| February 9, 2007 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1681: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Macon County
Macon County had 45,051 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $67,788 a year. Unemployment was 6% in 2023; in Decatur itself the ACS puts it at 8.3%.
Public schools in Decatur
20 public schools with 7,827 students, about 18.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MacArthur High School | 9-12 | 1,042 | 19.7 |
| Eisenhower High School | 9-12 | 936 | 18.4 |
| Montessori Academy for Peace | PK-8 | 639 | 16.4 |
| Johns Hill Magnet School | K-8 | 623 | 16.4 |
| Dennis Lab School | K-8 | 539 | 19.3 |
| Hope Academy | K-8 | 498 | 19.2 |
| Parsons Elementary School | K-6 | 488 | 17.4 |
| Franklin Grove Elem School | K-6 | 474 | 22.6 |
| Stephen Decatur Middle School | 7-8 | 467 | 20.3 |
| Muffley Elem School | K-6 | 401 | 19.1 |
| Pershing Early Learning Center | PK-PK | 375 | 26.8 |
| American Dreamer STEM Academy | K-8 | 364 | 14.0 |
Towns near Decatur
- Forsyth, IL5.1 mi · 3,734 people · home $281,000
- Mount Zion, IL5.6 mi · 6,019 people · home $201,100
- Clinton, IL20.2 mi · 7,004 people · home $102,800
- Monticello, IL22.7 mi · 5,941 people · home $210,500
- Sullivan, IL25.0 mi · 4,413 people · home $102,500
- Taylorville, IL28.4 mi · 10,506 people · home $104,100
Decatur questions
Is Decatur, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Decatur scores better for retirees than 19% of Illinois towns and quieter than 28%. 21.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.2).
How much does a house cost in Decatur?
The median owner-occupied home in Decatur is valued at $99,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,592, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $845 a month.
What is the weather like in Decatur?
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 19.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.4 inches of precipitation a year and 13.6 inches of snow.
Does Decatur get tornadoes?
58 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Decatur since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 20, 1976. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)