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CITY

Decatur

Illinois · 67,884 residents (2025 est.) · 43.476 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#282Fastest shrinkingof 6,642-7.4%
The short version

Decatur has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $51,592. Population has declined 15% since 2000. 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $99,600. Households here earn about 38% less than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 10%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
69,815
−15%since 2000
from 81,860 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,606 / sq mi
−15%since 2000
from 1,883 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
39.2
+5%since 2000
from 37.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:67,884 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
68K73K77K81K85K1990201020202024Decatur
202470K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$51,592
−14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,111 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$32,769
+72%since 2000
from $19,009 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
34.0%
+14.1 ptssince 2009
from 19.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
19.4%
+2.8 ptssince 2000
from 16.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.472
+2%since 2010
from 0.461 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade17.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance6.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services6.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical5.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration4.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade4.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services1.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$99,600
−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $60,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$845
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $447 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
62.9%
−3.5 ptssince 2000
from 66.4% in 2000
37.1% rent
Vacancy rate
14.2%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 12.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.0%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 19.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
36.2%
−6.4 ptssince 2009
from 42.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.9
+5%since 2000
from 1.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
28
RELATED:See current rent listings in Decatur on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic77%(62,993)
Black19.4%(15,846)
Hispanic / Latino1.2%(978)
Asian0.7%(536)
Other0%
Diversity Score43.3%(35,439)
2024
White, non-Hispanic64.9%(45,319)
Black23.3%(16,237)
Hispanic / Latino3.3%(2,311)
Asian1.5%(1,029)
Other7%(4,919)
Diversity Score64.8%(45,228)
Diversity Score
65
+50%since 2000
from 43 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
21.6%
+4.6 ptssince 2000
from 17.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.7%
+10.9 ptssince 2000
from 80.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.7%
+2.0 ptssince 2000
from 5.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.7 min
+54%since 2000
from 11.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.4%
−6.9 ptssince 2009
from 85.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 7.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.4%
+7.0 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
12.1%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
8.3%
−1.7 ptssince 2011
from 10.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
56.3%
−2.5 ptssince 2011
from 58.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.7%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 13.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
31.6%
−33.4 ptssince 2009
from 65.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.3%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 46.7% in 2009
Female
52.7%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 53.3% in 2009
Foreign born
3.1%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.7%
−38.9 ptssince 2009
from 45.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.7%
+1.3 ptssince 2012
from 15.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.7%
−81.9 ptssince 2013
from 86.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.3%
+15.7 ptssince 2017
from 72.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
95.4%
−0.7 ptssince 2016
from 96.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.0%
+0.3 ptssince 2016
from 1.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Decatur, Illinois?

Decatur, Illinois has about 69,815 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Decatur, Illinois?

The typical household in Decatur, Illinois earns about $51,592 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Decatur, Illinois expensive?

In Decatur, Illinois, the median home is worth about $99,600, and the typical rent is about $845 a month.

How educated are people in Decatur, Illinois?

About 21.6% of adults age 25 and over in Decatur, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Decatur, Illinois?

About 19.4% of people in Decatur, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Decatur, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Decatur, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 14,070 residents, a change of about -17 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →