Decatur

Trees frame the sunset sinking below historic buildings in Decatur, IL.
The sunset over the Johns Hill neighborhood in Decatur, IL.
The sunset over the Johns Hill neighborhood in Decatur, IL.
The Johns Hill community celebrates Abraham Lincoln, who started his political career in Decatur.
The Central Park Farmers Market offers many items from local vendors.

Decatur, IL Area Guide

Welcome to the largest city in Illinois

Suburban Lake Affordable

The largest city in Illinois, Decatur sits in the heart of the state along Lake Decatur. Historic sites, local attractions, and abundant affordable apartments and houses for rent define this sprawling suburb. Along Main Street you’ll find historic landmarks, local cafes, restaurants, bars, and shops. Easy access to Interstate 72 connects residents to nearby cities including Springfield and Champaign. Residents and visitors alike enjoy visiting Nelson Park on the lake, as well as the Scovill Zoo and Children’s Museum of Illinois. Decatur offers a welcoming community, great public schools, and a sense of small-town charm.

Explore the City

The sunset over the Johns Hill neighborhood in Decatur, IL.

The Johns Hill community celebrates Abraham Lincoln, who started his political career in Decatur.

The Central Park Farmers Market offers many items from local vendors.

Rent Trends

As of March 2026, the average apartment rent in Decatur, IL is $557 for a studio, $707 for one bedroom, $886 for two bedrooms, and $1,132 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Decatur has increased by 4.0% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$707/month
630 Sq Ft
House
$1,003/month
884 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Decatur, IL

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Decatur, IL is 20.1% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Decatur is 49.6% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $557 - $1,132. You can expect to pay 1.5% less for groceries, 4.9% more for utilities, and 4.8% less for transportation.

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Getting Around

Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Decatur, IL is for everyday living.

Car-Dependent

47 / 100

This area is considered a car-dependent area and most errands will require a car.

Somewhat Bikeable

44 / 100

You might be able to find places to ride your bike in this area, but you’ll most likely want your car for most errands.

Schools

Robertson Charter School

Public

Grades PK-8

Garfield Montessori School

Public

Grades PK-8

Dennis Lab School

Public

Grades PK-8

Robertson Charter School

Public

Grades PK-8

Dennis Lab School

Public

Grades PK-8

Garfield Montessori School

Public

Grades PK-8

Macarthur High School

Public

Grades 9-12

Eisenhower High School

Public

Grades 9-12

Southeast Learning Center

Public

Grades PK-12

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Children's Museum of Illinois
  • Scovill Zoo
  • Sand Creek Conservation Area
  • Rock Springs Conservation Area & Nature Center
  • Spitler Woods State Park

Commuter Rail

Top Apartments in Decatur

Houses for Rent in Decatur

Property Management Companies in Decatur, IL

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Nearby City Rentals

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.