Median Age
40 Years
Largest Age Group
20-29 Years
Approximately 13% of Residents
Under 20
25%
Over 65
21%
Decatur, IL
Area Guide
Avg Rent
$711
Population
69,099
Renter Mix
42% Rent
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.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$42,212
Average: $59,338
Education
12,640
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
29,101
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Decatur has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
42%
Non-Renters
58%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
13%
Other Education
87%
Rent Trends
As of June 2026, the average apartment rent in Decatur, IL is $561 for a studio, $711 for one bedroom, $895 for two bedrooms, and $1,167 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Decatur has increased by 3.4% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$711/month
630 Sq Ft
House
$910/month
644 Sq Ft
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 $561 - $1,167. 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.
Fairly Walkable
Walkability
40
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
100
/ 100
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
40
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades K-8
628 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
609 Students
South Shores Elementary School
Public
Grades K-5
322 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
315 Students
Public
Grades K-5
373 Students
Public
Grades K-8
628 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
609 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
315 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
556 Students
Public
Grades K-8
519 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,012 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
860 Students
Public
Grades PK-12
2 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
Public
Grades 9-12
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
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
Military Bases
Top Apartments in Decatur
Houses for Rent in Decatur
Search Nearby Rentals
Nearby House 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 June 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.