Downtown-MerchantRsz (cropped) · Gil Lebois / CC0Decatur, IL Transfer House in Central Park · Ander107 / CC BY-SA 3.0Millikin University (cropped) · Paris25 / CC BY-SA 3.0Decatur, IL train station · Ron Reiring / CC BY 2.0
Decatur is a mid-sized city of 70,975 in Illinois, with a median household income of $49,039
and a 8.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is
13% below the national average.
Strengths:
Decatur stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Decatur is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Decatur city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 86.6
Decatur's overall cost of living index is 86.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Decatur costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.
Metric
Decatur, IL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$96,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$770
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
61.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$49,039
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Higher than Average
Decatur's violent crime rate is 602.1 per 100,000 residents
— 58% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
602.1 /100k
Property Crime
2867.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Decatur is served primarily by Decatur SD 61.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.2:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Decatur, IL
National Avg
School District
Decatur SD 61
—
Elementary Schools
11
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
21.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Decatur sees average highs of 34.0°F in January
and 84.7°F in July,
with 40.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 13.6 inches of snow per year.
Decatur's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Decatur roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $96,800 and median rent is $770/month.
Decatur's violent crime rate is 602.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2867.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Decatur are operated by Decatur SD 61.
The district has 11 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.2:1. 21.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Decatur, IL has a population of 70,975, a median household income of $49,039, and an unemployment rate of 8.9%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Decatur averages 34.0°F in January and 84.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.4 inches
with about 13.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Decatur, IL is covered by 4 ZIP codes: 62526, 62521, 62522, 62523.
The population of Decatur, Illinois is 70,975 with a median age of 39.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Decatur: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $96,800, median household income $49,039, crime index 150 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Decatur side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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