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CITY

Mason

Illinois · 321 residents (2025 est.) · 1.287 sq mi
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The short version

Mason has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $65,455. Population has grown 18% since 2000. 5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $82,900. At a median age of 29.8, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 29.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
5% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
467
+18%since 2000
from 396 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
363 / sq mi
+18%since 2000
from 308 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
29.8
−16%since 2000
from 35.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:321 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
2373003634254881990201020202024Mason
2024467
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$65,455
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,441 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$23,001
+72%since 2000
from $13,392 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
37.8%
+24.3 ptssince 2009
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
35.5%
+29.4 ptssince 2000
from 6.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.316
−4%since 2010
from 0.328 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information25.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade16.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade13.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services5.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$82,900
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$911
+54%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $325 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
78.0%
−10.4 ptssince 2000
from 88.4% in 2000
22.0% rent
Vacancy rate
7.9%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 8.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.8%
+10.4 ptssince 2009
from 8.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
36.1%
−11.7 ptssince 2009
from 47.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.3
+34%since 2000
from 0.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
53
RELATED:See current rent listings in Mason on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97%(384)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino2.3%(9)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%
Diversity Score5.6%(22)
2024
White, non-Hispanic94.6%(442)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino2.1%(10)
Asian1.7%(8)
Other1.5%(7)
Diversity Score12.9%(60)
Diversity Score
13
+131%since 2000
from 6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
5.0%
+0.5 ptssince 2000
from 4.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
86.4%
+15.5 ptssince 2000
from 70.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
0.7%
Unchangedsince 2000
from 0.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.4 min
+81%since 2000
from 13.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
86.7%
+7.5 ptssince 2009
from 79.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.4%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 5.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.4%
−8.1 ptssince 2009
from 12.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.5%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
0.0%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.7%
+0.8 ptssince 2011
from 6.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
68.1%
+4.0 ptssince 2011
from 64.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
3.0%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
11.8%
−32.2 ptssince 2009
from 44.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
45.6%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
Female
54.4%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
Foreign born
3.0%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.5%
−39.1 ptssince 2009
from 47.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
17.6%
+7.6 ptssince 2012
from 10.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.6%
−76.5 ptssince 2013
from 83.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
83.5%
+22.5 ptssince 2017
from 61.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.3%
−3.4 ptssince 2016
from 99.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.0%
+2.0 ptssince 2016
from 0.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Mason to nearby cities

MASON VS
Effingham
Income$72,377+11%
Home value$177,500+114%
Population12,406+3765%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MASON VS
Olney
Income$59,980−8%
Home value$99,800+20%
Population8,347+2500%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MASON VS
Mattoon
Income$51,597−21%
Home value$97,700+18%
Population16,667+5092%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MASON VS
Centralia
Income$47,807−27%
Home value$89,600+8%
Population11,863+3596%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Mason, Illinois?

Mason, Illinois has about 467 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Mason, Illinois?

The typical household in Mason, Illinois earns about $65,455 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Mason, Illinois expensive?

In Mason, Illinois, the median home is worth about $82,900, and the typical rent is about $911 a month.

How educated are people in Mason, Illinois?

About 5.0% of adults age 25 and over in Mason, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Mason, Illinois?

About 35.5% of people in Mason, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Mason, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Mason, Illinois has grown since 1990. The population has added about 87 residents, a change of about 23 percent over that period.

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

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