Last Updated on: 28th November 2023, 05:07 pm
Macon County is a peaceful area in Central Illinois, offering affordable living and a low crime rate. There are plenty of fantastic cities and towns in Macon County that make a great place to raise a family or settle into your retirement with friendly residents and Midwestern charm. Although it’s mostly a rural community, you still find plenty of great Macon County cities with amenities and excitement. Here is a complete list of all the cities in Macon County, Ill, by population based on data from the US Census Bureau.
Table of Contents
About Macon County
Macon County is a county located in the heart of Central Illinois. It’s situated in the center of the state, surrounded by De Witt, Piatt, Moultrie, Shelby, Christian, Sangamon, and Logan counties. The county comprises the metropolitan statistical area of Decatur, IL, which is also the county seat. Macon County’s history dates back to 1829, when it was originally formed out of Shelby County. It underwent several boundary changes over the years but has remained consistent since 1843.
The county is named after Nathaniel Macon, a Revolutionary War colonel who later served as a senator from North Carolina. President Abraham Lincoln once resided in Macon County after moving to the area with his family in 1830. Today, Macon County is known for its rich history and calm pace of life. It has a humid continental climate with hot summers and cold winters, with temperatures typically ranging from the low 20s to the high 80s. Macon County residents also have plenty of options for transportation with several major highways, including I-72, US Route 36, US Route 51, and Illinois Routes 58, 105, 121, and 128, as well as the Decatur Public Transit System. Residents will find many fun things to do in Macon County, including the Scovill Zoo, the Rock Springs Conservation Center, and the Kirkland Fine Arts Center.
Macon County is very affordable and features a median home price of just $123,000 and rent prices around $500 monthly. It also features a stable economy supported by industries like healthcare, education, and manufacturing, and some of the top employers in the county include Archer Daniels Midland, Caterpillar, Decatur Memorial Hospital, Decatur Public Schools, HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital, and Millikin University. So, if you’re looking for a quiet community with a robust economy, you’ll love living in Macon County.
Macon County Demographics
- Macon County population: 104,003 residents
- Macon County median age: 41.3 years old
- Macon County median household income: $60,332
- Macon County median home price: $123,000
- Macon County area: 586 square miles
- Macon County density: 580.6 residents per square mile
- Macon County educational attainment: 95.2% have a high school diploma, and 24.7% have a bachelor’s degree.
Largest Villages & Cities in Macon County, IL
Decatur
Decatur is the largest city in Macon County and also the county seat. It’s the primary metropolitan area, and the population is ten times that of any other municipality in the county. It is also the 17th largest city in the state. Decatur is situated on the Sangamon River and Lake Decatur, offering gorgeous views and plenty of opportunity for outdoor recreation. It’s also home to two institutions of higher learning, Millikin University and Richland Community College. Decatur is a major hub for the agriculture industry, with major companies like Archer Daniels Midland, Caterpillar, and Tate & Lyle’s having a major presence in the city. Decatur is considered the metropolitan epicenter and most culturally important of all the Macon County cities and offers a great place to retire or raise a family. You can learn more about living in Decatur by reading our complete guide.
- Decatur population: 70,522
- Decatur area: 47.79 square miles
- Decatur median home price: $129,000
- Decatur median household income: 70,522
View this post on Instagram
Mount Zion
The next largest municipality in Macon County Illinois, is Mount Zion, a village located northwest of Decatur. Mount Zion is a peaceful community that is home to several parks, including the Spitler Woods State Natural Area and the Fort Daniels Conservation Area. Fletcher Park also borders the community to the south. The village is home to the well-respected Mount Zion School District 3, which includes Mount Zion High School, one of the top 200 high schools in Illinois. Mount Zion is a quiet, family-friendly community with low crime and an affordable cost of living. It’s located at the tail end of Lake Decatur, surrounded by parks and nature preserves, making it a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Plus, Route 121 passes directly through the community, offering easy access to other parts of the county and state.
- Mount Zion population: 6,019
- Mount Zion area: 4.28 square miles
- Mount Zion median home price: $270,000
- Mount Zion median household income: $90,823
Forsyth
Next on the list of largest towns and cities in Macon County, Il, is Forsyth, another village within the Decatur metro area. The community offers a rural ambiance with spacious, affordable homes, quiet streets, and low crime. Route 51 runs through the center of the village, providing easy access to downtown Decatur to the south and Clinton, IL to the north. I-72 also runs along the southern border, offering a route to other major cities like Champaign and Springfield. The Hickory Point Mall is a major attraction in Forsyth, with outlets from major big box stores and retail brands as well as a food court stocked with popular restaurants. Village Park is another popular spot with playgrounds, disc golf, and more. Plus, right down the road is the Hickory Point Golf Course. Forsyth is one of the best places to live in Macon County Illinois, with gorgeous neighborhoods, plenty of parks, and a central location.
- Forsyth population: 3,734
- Forsyth area: 3.13 square miles
- Forsyth median home price: $300,000
- Forsyth median household income: $96,875
View this post on Instagram
Maroa
Maroa is the second largest city in Macon County, Illinois, but the fourth largest municipality overall. It’s located in north Macon County, along the southern border of DeWitt County, about 13 miles from Decatur. Maroa has several parks and recreation areas, including Spencer Park and Walter Boyd Field. It’s also home to the well-respected Maroa-Forsyth High School, the alma mater of professional athletes like Kevin Koslofski and Jeff Query. Maroa is a calm, quiet city with a small-town feel that offers easy access to everything you need, including parks, shopping, employment opportunities, and hospitals. It also has a violent crime rate of 85% lower than the national average and a median home price of under $100,000, making it a safe, affordable place to raise a family.
- Maroa population: 1,577
- Maroa area: 1.76 square miles
- Maroa median home price: $96,875
- Maroa median household income: $60,625
Harristown
Harristown is another village in Macon County, located directly west of Decatur, near the intersection of I-72 and Route 36. When Abraham Lincoln first moved to Illinois, his first home was in Harristown, where he and his family built a log cabin along the Sangamon River and fenced in about 10 acres of land. However, he departed after about a year. The Lincoln Trail Homestead State Park and Memorial was built in 1904 on the site of the family’s original plot of land. Today, Harristown is a serene, rural area with friendly residents and a low cost of living. It’s a small area covering only about 1.8 square miles of territory. However, it’s a central location near major highways, and the city of Decatur offers everything you need right at your fingertips.
- Harristown population: 1,310
- Harristown area: 1.80 square miles
- Harristown median home price: $99,500
- Harristown median household income: $62,639
Long Creek
Long Creek is a village in Macon County located southeast of Decatur and just north of Mount Zion. It’s the 6th largest municipality in Macon County, with a population of 1,261. Long Creek covers the area between Route 36 and 121, offering a quick commute to Decatur and other parts of the state. It gets its name from a literal creek that runs through the area. Long Creek is a peaceful, rural village offering affordable living and low crime. The total crime rate in the village is 68% lower than the national average, and the violent crime rate is 58% lower. The median home price is slightly higher than other areas in Macon County but still very affordable compared to the rest of the US. Plus, it’s a relatively affluent area with a median household income 20% higher than the rest of the state.
- Long Creek population: 1,261
- Long Creek area: 2.83 square miles
- Long Creek median home price: $277,000
- Long Creek median household income: $86,042
Other Cities & Villages in Macon County
Outside of the six largest municipalities in Macon County Illinois, several other smaller towns and villages also offer peaceful rural living and a good place to raise a family. Here are a few other notable places to live in Macon County.
- Macon (1,177 residents): Macon is a town in southwest Macon County, about 9 miles south of Decatur. It’s a quiet community with a welcoming atmosphere that offers rural living and a median home price of under $150,000.
- Blue Mound (1,133 residents): Blue Mound is a village located along Route 48 in southwest Macon County, about 14 miles from Decatur, surrounded by the Griswold Conservation Area, a 43-acre park and camping spot with hiking trails and camping areas.
- Warrensburg (1,110 residents): Warrensburg is a village in northwest Macon County along Route 121, about 10 miles outside of Decatur, with plenty of local watering holes and recreation areas like Illini Park and the Warrensburg Sportsmans Club.
- Oreana (891 residents): Oreana is a village in northeast Macon County situated along Route 48, about 10 miles from Decatur, that offers affordable homes and small-town living.
- Argenta (913 residents): Argenta is another village in northeast Macon County in a central location about 15 minutes from Decatur, 30 minutes from Champaign, and 50 minutes from Springfield.
- Niantic (612 residents): Niantic is a village in West Macon County that is home to the iconic Niantic water tower and the respected Sangamon Valley High School.
- Boody (232 residents): Boody is an unincorporated community and census-designated place located along Route 48 southwest of Decatur that is named after Colonel William H. Boody.
Macon County Townships
In addition to cities and towns, several townships in Macon County range in size from a few hundred to several thousand people. A township is a subdivision of a county that features some governing authority. Several townships share a name with prominent cities and towns in the county but are separate municipalities. Here are all the townships in Macon County, IL.
| Township | Population |
| Austin | 184 |
| Blue Mound | 939 |
| Decatur | 48,211 |
| Friends Creek | 1,372 |
| Harristown | 1,693 |
| Hickory Point | 18,258 |
| Illini | 1,475 |
| Long Creek | 10,455 |
| Marcoa | 2,286 |
| Mount Zion | 7,146 |
| Niantic | 854 |
| Oakley | 582 |
| Pleasant View | 1,293 |
| South Macon | 1,306 |
| South Wheatland | 3,998 |
| Whitmore | 4,297 |
View this post on Instagram
School Districts in Macon County
There are 12 school districts covering Macon County, Illinois, including 62 public schools and 15 private schools. Here are the top school districts in the county.
Argenta-Oreana CUSD #1
The Argenta-Oreana CUSD covers the villages of Argenta-Oreana, the unincorporated community of Newburgh, and the surrounding area. The district enrolls 969 students with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15:1, across three schools: Argenta-Oreana Elementary School, Middle School, and High School. The elementary school is highly rated by parents and teachers and ranks #653 in the state of Illinois.
Decatur Public Schools #61
Decatur Public Schools covers the city of Decatur and the surrounding areas, enrolling approximately 7900 students across 15 schools. It’s the largest school district in Macon County, IL, and the 4th largest employer in Decatur. Top schools in the district include Benjamin Franklin Elementary and Eisenhower High School.
Maroa-Forsyth CUSD #2
The Maroa-Forsyth School District covers the villages of Maroa and Forsyth as well as smaller unincorporated communities surrounding them. It includes Maroa-Forsyth Grade School, Middle School, and High School. The high school is considered the second best in the district and #305 in the state overall, with a graduation rate of 96%.
Meridian CUSD #15
The Meridian CUSD serves the communities of Blue Mound, Boody, Elwin, and Macon. The district enrolls about 1450 students with a student-teacher ratio of 13:1. The district has three schools, including Meridian Elementary School, Middle School, and High School. The Illinois State Board of Education recently recognized the district’s preschool program for its quality and community engagement.
Zion CUSD #3
The Mt. Zion CUSD serves the village of Mt. Zion as well as nearby municipalities like Dalton City, Hervey City, and Long Creek. The district is highly rated among teachers and students and enrolls 2,398 students across five schools. Mt. Zion High School is widely considered the best public high school in the Decatur area and ranks number 135 in the state overall, with a graduation rate of 93%.
Sangamon Valley CUSD #9
Sangamon Valley CUSD covers several villages and communities along I-72 west of Decatur, including Harristown, Niantic, Illiopolis, and Lanesville. It enrolls about 659 students across four schools: Sangamon Valley Primary School, Intermediate School, Middle School, and High School. According to its report card from the Illinois Department of Education, the district spends around $13,000 per student and has a graduation rate of 89%.
Warrensburg-Latham CUSD #11
The Warrensburg-Latham CUSD covers several communities along Route 121, including Bearsdale, Warrensburg, Heman, Latham, and parts of Forsyth. The district enrolls around 989 students across three schools: Warrensburg Latham Elementary School, Middle School, and High School.
Private Schools in Macon County Illinois
There are several private and parochial schools in Macon County as well. The Decatur Christian School is a top private school in the city that features a graduation rate of 100% and a student-teacher ratio of 12:1. Holy Family School and Unity Christian School are two additional highly-rate educational institutions offering religious education.
Top private schools in Mason County:
- Decatur Christian Schools
- Hillside Bethel Christian School
- Holy Family School
- Lutheran School Association
- Our Lady of Lourdes School
- St. Patrick School
- St. Teresa High School
Macon County Map
Find more fun things to do and attractions with this Macon County map!
Ready to relocate to one of these peaceful towns in Central Illinois? Trust our team of experienced Central Illinois movers to get you where you need to go. Call 800-747-4100 for a free, personalized moving quote.
