Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 17115

Macon County, Illinois

County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.

Population101,849
Household income$62,666
Unemployment5.8%
Life expectancy74.6 years

County overview

Living metrics at a glance

Macon County has 101,849 residents and ranks #19 by population among Illinois county equivalents. Median household income is $62,666. The annual-average unemployment rate is 5.8%. Its clearest relative strength is primary care access. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.

Within Illinois

County population range

The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.

State rank#19 of 102
Smallest county101,849 residentsCook County

Relocation guide

Moving to Macon County: what to check

Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.

Before moving

Before moving, compare municipalities inside Macon County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is primary care access.

Cost and housing

Housing benchmarks are $127,300 median home value and $847/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $62,666, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.

Who it may suit

Macon County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing primary care access, uninsured, and bachelor’s degree or higher. College attainment is 24.4% and life expectancy is 74.6 years.

Potential advantages

  • Primary care access: 1 per 1,126 residents, rank #9 of 94 available Illinois counties.
  • Uninsured: 5.4%, rank #22 of 102 available Illinois counties.
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 24.4%, rank #33 of 102 available Illinois counties.

Trade-offs to check

  • Unemployment rate: 5.8%, rank #97 of 102; investigate local variation before moving.
  • Life expectancy: 74.6 years, rank #81 of 102; investigate local variation before moving.
  • Median household income: $62,666, rank #70 of 102; investigate local variation before moving.

Income, housing, jobs, education & health

County metrics within Illinois

Rank and range use only counties in Illinois with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.

Median household income $62,666

$62,666; below the state county median of $66,532.

State rank #70 of 102 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value $127,300

$127,300; below the state county median of $134,650.

State rank #43 of 102 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent $847/mo

$847/mo; above the state county median of $811/mo.

State rank #64 of 102 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate 5.8%

5.8%; above the state county median of 4.6%.

State rank #97 of 102 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher 24.4%

24.4%; above the state county median of 20.9%.

State rank #33 of 102 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy 74.6 years

74.6 years; below the state county median of 75.9 years.

State rank #81 of 102 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health 18.6%

18.6%; above the state county median of 18%.

State rank #63 of 102 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured 5.4%

5.4%; below the state county median of 6%.

State rank #22 of 102 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access 1 per 1,126 residents

1 per 1,126 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 2,412 residents.

State rank #9 of 94 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access 1 per 538 residents

1 per 538 residents; above the state county median of 1 per 528 residents.

State rank #51 of 97 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps

Common questions

Macon County FAQ

Is Macon County a good place to live?

Macon County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing primary care access, uninsured, and bachelor’s degree or higher. College attainment is 24.4% and life expectancy is 74.6 years.

What should I know before moving to Macon County?

Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $127,300 median home value and $847/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $62,666, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.

What is the population of Macon County?

Macon County has 101,849 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.

What is the FIPS code for Macon County?

The five-digit county FIPS code is 17115; the parent state FIPS is 17.

What is the median household income in Macon County?

The ACS median household income is $62,666.

How much does housing cost in Macon County?

Housing benchmarks are $127,300 median home value and $847/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $62,666, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.

What is the unemployment rate in Macon County?

The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 5.8%.

Similar population

Nearby counties in the state ranking

Source and gate

Methodology and source periods

All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.

Continue exploring

See the state context