Is Mason, IL a Good Place to Live?
Mason is a small town of 371 in Illinois, with a median household income of $60,417 and a 5.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is 13% below the national average.
Strengths: Mason stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Mason is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Mason 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: 87.1Mason's overall cost of living index is 87.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Mason costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.
| Metric | Mason, IL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $71,700 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $570 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 88.8% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $60,417 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Very SafeMason's violent crime rate is 88.2 per 100,000 residents — 77% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
| Metric | Mason, IL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | N/A | — |
| Elementary Schools | N/A | — |
| Middle Schools | N/A | — |
| High Schools | N/A | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | N/A | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 2.5% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 81.9% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Mason sees average highs of 37.4°F in January and 88.5°F in July, with 45.0 inches of annual precipitation and 14.6 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | Mason, IL |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 37.4°F |
| Average High — July | 88.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.6" |
Demographics
| Metric | Mason, IL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 371 | — |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 23.1 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 94.1% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 0.0% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 0.0% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 2.4% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 12.1% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Mason
Mason, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: