Macon is a small town of 1,080 in Illinois, with a median household income of $64,412
and a 2.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is
13% below the national average.
Strengths:
Macon stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Macon is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Macon 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
Macon's overall cost of living index is 86.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Macon costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.
Metric
Macon, IL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$109,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$775
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
79.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$64,412
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Macon's violent crime rate is 396.1 per 100,000 residents
— 4% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
396.1 /100k
Property Crime
1901.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Macon is served primarily by Meridian CUSD 15.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Macon, IL
National Avg
School District
Meridian CUSD 15
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.4:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
12.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
92.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Macon 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.
Macon's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Macon roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $109,700 and median rent is $775/month.
Macon's violent crime rate is 396.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1901.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Macon are operated by Meridian CUSD 15.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1. 12.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Macon, IL has a population of 1,080, a median household income of $64,412, and an unemployment rate of 2.4%.
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.
Macon 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).
Macon, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 62544.
The population of Macon, Illinois is 1,080 with a median age of 46.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Macon: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $109,700, median household income $64,412, crime index 99 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Macon side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.