In Decatur, a typical home is worth $99,600 and typical rent is $845 a month. Compared with all of Macon County, the typical home value is 22% lower, typical household income is 18% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 7 points lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $80,524 to $104,647.
Typical rent
$1,057a month
▲ 5.4% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent from Zillow, March 2023 to September 2026: from $821 to $1,057.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Decatur is in Macon County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Macon County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
The typical home in Decatur is worth $99,600,22% less than in Macon County as a whole ($127,300).
2
The typical household income in Decatur is $51,592,18% less than in Macon County as a whole ($62,666).
3
63% of households in Decatur own their home, against 70% in Macon County.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Decatur
What homes there are in Decatur, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Decatur
Macon County
Illinois
United States
Kind of home: Decatur and its comparisons
Measure
Decatur
Macon County
Illinois
United States
Detached house
74%
79%
58%
61%
Attached house
3%
2%
6%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
4%
3%
12%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
17%
14%
22%
19%
Mobile home
3%
2%
2%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
In Decatur, 7 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Macon County, 8.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Decatur
Macon County
Illinois
United States
Year built: Decatur and its comparisons
Measure
Decatur
Macon County
Illinois
United States
Before 1960
50%
45%
38%
26%
1960–1979
29%
31%
26%
24%
1980–1999
16%
17%
20%
25%
2000–2009
3%
6%
11%
14%
2010 or later
2%
2%
6%
11%
The typical home in Decatur was built in 1960, 4 years before the typical one in Macon County.
Homes in Decatur are smaller: 53% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Macon County, 60%.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $100K50%
$100K–$200K35%
$200K–$300K9%
$300K–$500K3%
$500K–$750K1%
FHA limit: $541,287
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Decatur and its comparisons
Measure
Decatur
Under $100K
50%
$100K–$200K
35%
$200K–$300K
9%
$300K–$500K
3%
$500K–$750K
1%
$750K–$1M
Unreliable estimate
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
About 98% of owner-occupied homes in Decatur are worth less than the FHA loan limit for Macon County ($541,287).
Monthly rent with utilities
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $5009%
$500–$99963%
$1,000–$1,49924%
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms: $1,091
$1,500–$1,999Unreliable
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Decatur and its comparisons
Measure
Decatur
Under $500
9%
$500–$999
63%
$1,000–$1,499
24%
$1,500–$1,999
Unreliable estimate
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable estimate
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable estimate
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
About 76% of rented homes in Decatur cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for Macon County ($1,091).
With a mortgage
$1,157 a month
Macon County: $1,292 a month
Without a mortgage
$503 a month
Macon County: $553 a month
Owners with a mortgage
51%
Macon County: 53%
In Decatur, 51% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,157 a month, against $1,292 in Macon County. Without one it drops to $503.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Decatur+20%
Macon County+29%
Illinois+35%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Decatur+24%
Macon County+24%
Illinois+26%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Decatur+21%
Macon County+24%
Illinois+27%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Decatur and its comparisons
Measure
Decatur
Macon County
Illinois
United States
Typical home value
+20%
+29%
+35%
+53%
Typical rent
+24%
+24%
+26%
+33%
Typical household income
+21%
+24%
+27%
+29%
Homes in Decatur gained value more slowly than in Macon County: 20% since 2015–2019, against 29%.
Rents in Decatur rose at about the same pace as in Macon County: 24% since 2015–2019, against 24%.
The typical household income in Decatur rose 21% over that time; home values changed +20% and rent +24%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Decatur and its comparisons
Measure
Decatur
Macon County
Illinois
United States
Rental vacancy
11.9%
11.8%
5.0%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1.0%
0.9%
More than one person per room
1.6%
1.3%
2.5%
3.4%
People per household
2.17
2.27
2.46
2.53
Drive alone
78%
81%
66%
69%
Carpool
8%
7%
8%
9%
Public transit
1%
1%
6%
3%
Walk or bike
3%
2%
3%
3%
Work from home
8%
8%
16%
15%
Other means
1%
1%
1%
2%
Typical commute
10 to 19 minutes
10 to 19 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
Open rentals in Decatur look like those in Macon County: the rental vacancy rate is 11.9%.
In Decatur, 1.6% of households live with more than one person per room, about the same as in Macon County.
Much as in Macon County, a household in Decatur has 2.17 people on average.
In Decatur, 78% of workers drive alone to work; in Macon County, 81%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Decatur?
A typical home is within reach of the typical income
We start with a typical home in Decatur, worth $99,600, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 22% of the typical household income in Decatur, which is $51,592 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Macon County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Decatur. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $3,486 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$938
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$97,796
Total interest
$140,705
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $1,682 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,204 a month
Your payment · 22%
Tight
$1,204 to $1,548 a month
Hard
more than $1,548 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Decatur ($51,592 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$663
Property tax
$190
Home insurance
$42
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$44
You need at least $3,486 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $938; principal and interest $663.
The city and its county
Decatur and Macon County
Decatur is in Macon County, Illinois. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Decatur
Map of Macon County, Illinois, with Decatur marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Decatur
Macon County
Other cities with a page
Decatur's own numbers
Typical home value
$99,600
Typical monthly rent
$845
Typical yearly household income
$51,592
Households that own their home
63%
Effective property tax rate
2.29%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Macon County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,091
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+44%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.8%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Macon County.
A typical home in Decatur is worth $99,600: 22% below the county and 62% below Illinois. With the typical household income in Decatur ($51,592 a year), a typical home costs 1.9 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Decatur1.9 years
Macon2.0 years
Illinois3.2 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Macon County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Macon County rose 54% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Macon County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Macon County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +0.9% +0.9% 2016
2017: +0.0% +0.0% 2017
2018: −0.2% −0.2% 2018
2019: +3.7% +3.7% 2019
2020: +1.9% +1.9% 2020
2021: +6.8% +6.8% 2021
2022: +11.5% +11.5% 2022
2023: +8.3% +8.3% 2023
2024: +6.4% +6.4% 2024
2025: +5.1% +5.1% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Macon County, Illinois and the United States
Period
County
Illinois
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+5.1%
+5.7%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+44%
+47%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+54%
+65%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Decatur next to Macon County, Illinois and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Decatur$99,600
Macon$127,300
Illinois$263,300
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Decatur$845
Macon$847
Illinois$1,274
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Decatur$51,592
Macon$62,666
Illinois$83,390
United States$80,734
See the full table
Decatur next to Macon County and Illinois
Measure
Decatur
Macon County
Illinois
U.S.
Typical home value
$99,600 ▼22% below the county
$127,300
$263,300
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$845
$847
$1,274
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$51,592 ▼18% below the county
$62,666
$83,390
$80,734
Households that own their home
63% ▼7 points below the county
70%
67%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$2,279 ▼15% below the county
$2,696
$5,298
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
2.29% ▲0.17 points above the county
2.12%
2.01%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
42% ▲2 points above the county
40%
48%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Macon County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Decatur
For a typical $99,600 home in Decatur, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Decatur's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$938a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$3,486
Cash to close
$6,474
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $44
Conventional, 5% down$920a month
Down payment
$4,980
Cash to close
$7,968
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $47
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$771a month
Down payment
$19,920
Cash to close
$22,908
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$863a month
Down payment
$14,940
Cash to close
$17,928
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Decatur
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$938
$3,486
$97,796
7.18%
FHA MIP · $44
$6,474
580
Conventional, 5% down
$920
$4,980
$94,620
7.18%
PMI · $47
$7,968
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$771
$19,920
$79,680
7.18%
None
$22,908
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$863
$14,940
$84,660
8.18%
None
$17,928
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Decatur is $845 a month: about the same as the county. In Decatur, 42% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Macon County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,091 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $20.98 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Macon County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$851
$16.37
$34,040
1 bedroom
$857
$16.48
$34,280
2 bedrooms
$1,091
$20.98
$43,640
3 bedrooms
$1,407
$27.06
$56,280
4 bedrooms
$1,724
$33.15
$68,960
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Decatur
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Decatur has 3 ZIP codes with their own.
For 2 bedrooms it runs from $960 in 62523 to $1,180 in 62521.
1 of the 3 is above the fair market rent for Macon County ($1,091).
2-bedroom fair market rent in each of the 3 ZIP codes of Decatur, beside the one for Macon County. For 2 bedrooms it runs from $960 in 62523 to $1,180 in 62521. 1 of the 3 is above the fair market rent for Macon County ($1,091).
2-bedroom fair market rent in each ZIP code
Each line is one ZIP code: in color, those above the county's fair market rent; in gray, the rest.
County: $1,091
Lowest: $960 (62523)Highest: $1,180 (62521)
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Decatur, fiscal year 2027.
62521
$920
$930
$1,180
$1,520
$1,860
62523
$760
$770
$960
$1,250
$1,540
62526
$830
$830
$1,060
$1,370
$1,670
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
62521 $1,180$1,520
62523 $960$1,250
62526 $1,060$1,370
2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Decatur when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
HUD lists 26 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Decatur. These are the largest.
Southern Hills/Orlando Apts3077 Southern Hills Dr, Decatur 62526212 low-income homes · 1 bd: 130 · 2 bd: 70 · 3 bd: 12 · In service since 2004 · For families(217) 875-5511
Oxford House2700 N Monroe St, Decatur 62526156 low-income homes · 1 bd: 156 · In service since 2012 · For older adults(301) 274-5553
Decatur1221 N Van Dyke St, Decatur 62522151 low-income homes · Run by Decatur Housing Authority · Average payment: $285 a month · Average wait: 16 months(217) 423-7711
Spring Creek Towers2727 N Monroe St, Decatur 62526137 low-income homes · 1 bd: 130 · 2 bd: 7 · In service since 2004 · For older adults(217) 875-3450
Belvedere Center Plaza225 W Wood St, Decatur 62523123 homes, 122 low-income · For older adults(217) 425-8822
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Macon County; none says it serves in Spanish.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Decatur or Macon County. The ones below are statewide in Illinois: they work in Decatur the same as in the rest of the state.
IHDA second loan with no payments until you sell or refinance, for the down payment in Illinois.Offered by Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA).
No legal help resource on our list is for Decatur or Macon County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Decatur and all of Macon County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Decatur?
The typical home value in Decatur is $99,600, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Macon County it is $127,300.
How much does it cost to rent in Decatur?
Typical rent in Decatur is $845 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Macon County is $1,091.
What is the FHA loan limit in Decatur?
Decatur uses the FHA limit for all of Macon County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Decatur?
The typical homeowner in Decatur pays $2,279 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 2.29% of the home’s value; in Macon County, the rate is 2.12%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Decatur?
There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Macon County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
