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Decatur, IL
City in Macon County, Illinois. ZIP codes: 62521, 62522, 62523, 62526.
Population
69,815
Land area
43.7sq mi
People per sq mi
1,598
ZIP codes
4
Decatur and its ZIP codes
Decatur at a glance
- Decatur is about 7 times as dense as Illinois as a whole.
- By population, it ranks 17th among 1,445 cities and towns in Illinois.
- The median household income is $51,592, 38% below the Illinois median of $83,390.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $99,600 (62% below Illinois) and median rent is $845 a month.
Local data for Decatur, IL
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals2
- Emergency Rooms2
- Nursing Homes5
- Schools27
- Colleges3
- Libraries1
- Banks22
- Post Offices3
- Parks32
- Grocery Stores28
- Restaurants252
- Affordable Housing14
- Dialysis Centers3
- Rehab & Long-Term Care Hospitals2
- Community Health Centers5
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment7
- Private Schools5
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools2
- Toxic Release Facilities11
- Historic Places4
Housing and community stats
Decatur, IL, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$51,592
Poverty rate
19.4%
Median home value
$99,600
Median rent
$845/mo
Homeownership
62.9%
Bachelor's or higher
21.6%
Median age
39.2
Average commute
17.7 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (10,785), Irish Americans (6,710), Mexican Americans (1,558).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Macon County. PPP loans are for Decatur.
Unemployment rate
5.1%
Aug 2026, -1.0 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$68,764
45,164 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$61,375
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$692M
FY 2026, $6,659 per person
PPP loans
$69.08M
1,257 loans, 8,634 jobs reported
How people get to work
Decatur, IL, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone78.4%
- Carpooled7.8%
- Public transit1.4%
- Walked2.5%
- Bicycle0.2%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.3%
- Worked from home8.4%
Average one-way commute: 17.7 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Decatur, IL, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Top: cold wave
Storm events since 1996
602
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
87
0.2% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
85° / 20°F
40.4 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone4 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Decatur, IL, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
44.4%
U.S. 33.3% +11.1 pts
Diabetes
14.5%
U.S. 12.1% +2.4 pts
Smoking
17.2%
U.S. 12.8% +4.4 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
9.5%
U.S. 11.1% -1.6 pts
ZIP codes in Decatur
4 in or overlapping Decatur. Population shown
Cities near Decatur
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| ForsythVillage | 4.6 mi | 3.1 |
| HarristownVillage | 5.6 mi | 1.8 |
| ElwinCensus-designated place | 5.8 mi | 0.8 |
| Mount ZionVillage | 6.8 mi | 4.3 |
| OreanaVillage | 7.3 mi | 0.5 |
| WarrensburgVillage | 7.5 mi | 0.7 |
| Long CreekVillage | 7.6 mi | 2.8 |
| BoodyCensus-designated place | 8.1 mi | 1.2 |
| MaconCity | 11 mi | 1.3 |
| ArgentaVillage | 11 mi | 0.7 |
| NianticVillage | 11 mi | 1 |
| Cerro GordoVillage | 12 mi | 0.7 |
| MaroaCity | 12 mi | 1.8 |
| Dalton CityVillage | 12 mi | 0.5 |
| LathamVillage | 13 mi | 0.3 |
| LaPlaceCensus-designated place | 13 mi | 0.7 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Decatur, IL in?
- Decatur is in Macon County, Illinois.
- What ZIP codes are in Decatur, IL?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Decatur include 62521, 62522, 62523, 62526.
- What is the population of Decatur, IL?
- About 69,815 people live in Decatur, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Decatur?
- Nearby places include Forsyth (4.6 mi), Harristown (5.6 mi), Elwin (5.8 mi), Mount Zion (6.8 mi), Oreana (7.3 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023