Macon County, Illinois: commercial real estate data.
Macon County, Illinois has a population of 101,849 across 581 square miles, down 3.1 percent since the 2020 census base. County output reached $9.05 bn in 2024, 2,241 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 103 7(a) approvals worth $62.3 m.
128 sourced county values · tier FULL · 12 sections
Macon County
How many people live in Macon County
- Population101,849
- Households43,468
- Average household size2.34
- Median household income$62,666
- Median age40.6
- Median gross rent$847 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$127,300
- Home value to household income2.0 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income16.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher24.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree8.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over70,226
- Population under 1823,066
- Share under 1822.6 percent
- Population 65 and over21,412
- Share 65 and over21.0 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6457,371
- Civilian labor force47,235
- Unemployment rate6.8 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over60.0 percent
- Rank by population among Illinois counties19th of 102
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents610th
Macon County is the 19th largest of 102 Illinois counties by population. A median home costs 2.0 times median household income, which is an affordable ownership market by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 22.6 percent against 21.0 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Macon County
Is Macon County growing
- Population change since the 2020 census base-3.13 percent
- Census 2020 base population103,996
- Births, 20241,144
- Deaths, 20241,265
- Natural change, 2024-121
- Net domestic migration, 2024-276
- Net international migration, 2024380
- Total net migration, 2024104
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-3,104
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2764th
The county has lost 3.13 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration alone is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Macon County
Where people moving to Macon County come from
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,636
- People arriving, from those returns2,868
- Adjusted gross income arriving$81.2 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$0
- Average income of an arriving household$49,647
- Largest single originMacon County Non-migrants (38,569 households)
- Largest single destination (38,569 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macon County Non-migrants | 38,569 | 76,071 | $2.99 bn |
| Other flows - Different State | 643 | 1,155 | $34.6 m |
| Other flows - South | 281 | 514 | $14.1 m |
| Other flows - Same State | 270 | 458 | $13.1 m |
| Other flows - Midwest | 220 | 378 | $13.2 m |
| Sangamon County | 126 | 187 | $5.1 m |
| Other flows - West | 105 | 206 | $5.1 m |
| Champaign County | 85 | 151 | $4.5 m |
The largest single source of arrivals is Macon County Non-migrants, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Macon County
What the Macon County economy runs on
- County GDP, 2024$9.05 bn
- County GDP, 2023$8.80 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20242.9 percent
- GDP change over five years32.6 percent
- Rank by GDP among Illinois counties15th
- Rank by GDP among US county-equivalents485th
- GDP per resident$88,893
Output grew 2.9 percent in the latest year and 32.6 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Macon County
Who employs people in Macon County
- Covered employment, annual average45,051
- Establishments reporting1,981
- Average annual pay$67,788
- Average weekly wage$1,304
- Sector 31-33, employment10,627
- Sector 31-33, average annual pay$106,030
- Sector 62, employment5,934
- Sector 62, average annual pay$62,227
- Sector 44-45, employment4,589
- Sector 44-45, average annual pay$35,080
- Sector 23, employment3,778
- Sector 23, average annual pay$76,340
- Sector 72, employment3,621
- Sector 48-49, employment2,240
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sector 31-33 | 10,627 | 82 | $106,030 |
| Sector 62 | 5,934 | 202 | $62,227 |
| Sector 44-45 | 4,589 | 309 | $35,080 |
| Sector 23 | 3,778 | 188 | $76,340 |
| Sector 72 | 3,621 | 204 | $22,859 |
| Sector 48-49 | 2,240 | 78 | $69,690 |
| Sector 52 | 1,359 | 98 | $85,339 |
| Sector 81 | 1,222 | 178 | $40,296 |
The largest sector is the biggest private employer group at 10,627 jobs, 23.6 percent of covered employment. Average pay per job exceeds median household income, which usually means single earner households and a wage base that can carry rent.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Macon County
What businesses operate in Macon County
- Establishments, all industries2,241
- Employment at those establishments42,511
- Annual payroll$2.91 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents22.0
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Macon County
What is being built in Macon County
- Housing units authorised by permit, 202457
- Declared construction value permitted$17.2 m
- Single family units authorised39
- Multifamily units authorised18
- Multifamily share of units31.6 percent
- Average declared value per unit$300,931
- Units authorised per 1,000 households1.3
Multifamily is 31.6 percent of units authorised, so the pipeline is predominantly for sale product.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Macon County
How much SBA lending happens in Macon County
- 7(a) approvals recorded103
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$62.3 m
- Average 7(a) approval$605,085
- Median 7(a) approval$180,000
- 10th percentile approval$35,200
- 90th percentile approval$1,622,000
- Largest single approval$4,150,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)852
- Jobs per approval8.3
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active24
- Distinct industries receiving approvals58
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer29.1 percent
- Loans on real estate terms30
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter65
- Franchise loans16
- Franchise share of approvals15.5 percent
- Leading industry by approval countHotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (8)
- Most active lenderFirst Mid Bank & Trust, National Association (43)
- 504 approvals recorded35
- 504 gross approval dollars$22.7 m
- Average 504 approval$647,400
- Median 504 approval$434,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval11.8
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved18.2
- Most active CDCSomerCor 504, Inc. (16)
- 7(a) share of SBA approvals74.6 percent
- Combined SBA approval dollars$85.0 m
The average approval of $605,085 sits well above the median of $180,000, so a small number of large deals is pulling the mean up. The median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here actually gets. Only 29.1 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Macon County
Do SBA loans in Macon County get paid back
- Loans with a final outcome recorded13
- Paid in full12
- Charged off1
- Charge off rate on resolved loans7.7 percent
- Status: Exempt from disclosure71
- Status: Charged off1
- Status: Paid in full12
- Status: Cancelled13
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed6
Of the 13 loans that have reached a final outcome, 7.7 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Macon County
Which parts of Macon County get the lending
- Places in the county with recorded lending9
- Decatur, approvals76
- Forsyth, approvals8
- MT ZION, approvals7
- Argenta, approvals3
- MACON, approvals2
- Mount Zion, approvals2
| Place | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Decatur | 76 | $52,074,100 |
| Forsyth | 8 | $7,409,800 |
| MT ZION | 7 | $958,700 |
| Argenta | 3 | $363,000 |
| MACON | 2 | $361,500 |
| Mount Zion | 2 | $670,300 |
| MAROA | 2 | $209,000 |
| BLUE MOUND | 2 | $252,400 |
Decatur accounts for 76 approvals against 8 in Forsyth. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Macon County
How big is Macon County
- Land area581 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Illinois counties38th of 102
- Width, east to west25.1 mi
- Height, north to south27.8 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land175
- Establishments per square mile3.86
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Macon County
What hazards affect Macon County
- EPA radon zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
- Communities in the NFIP Community Status Book8
- Of those, participating in the NFIP7
- NFIP participation rate87.5 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
The EPA places the county in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L.
US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001. FEMA OpenFEMA, NFIP Community Status Book, Community Status Book, as retrieved.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Every item below could be filled with a plausible figure. None of them is. On a page a lender may read, a number that cannot be traced is worse than an absence, so the absences are named.
- Flood zone record counts are not held. The flood coverage export has not landed, so no count is shown rather than an estimated one.
- Traffic counts resolve in the platform, not in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here.
- Zoning is in build. Parcel level zoning is not published on this page.
Feasibility studies
When a Macon County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Macon County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population101,849
- Households43,468
- Average household size2.34
- Median household income$62,666
- Median age40.6
Common questions
Macon County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Macon County, Illinois?
101,849, in 43,468 households, ranking 19th of 102 Illinois counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Macon County growing?
The population has fallen 3.13 percent since the 2020 census base. In 2024 there were 1,144 births against 1,265 deaths, with net migration of 104. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Macon County?
$62,666. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $127,300, which is 2.0 times income, and median gross rent is $847 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are there in Macon County?
2,241 establishments, employing 42,511 people with an annual payroll of $2.91 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is the average wage in Macon County?
Average annual pay is $67,788, or $1,304 a week, across 45,051 covered jobs. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Macon County?
103 7(a) approvals totalling $62.3 m since FY2020, across 24 lenders, with a median approval of $180,000, plus 35 504 approvals worth $22.7 m. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Macon County get paid back?
Of the 13 loans that have reached a final outcome, 12 were paid in full and 1 charged off, a charge off rate of 7.7 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
What is being built in Macon County?
57 housing units were authorised by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $17.2 m. Multifamily was 31.6 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Macon County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Macon County come from?
The largest single origin is Macon County Non-migrants, with 38,569 households. Arriving households report an average income of $49,647 against null for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Macon County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Macon County?
Not yet. The zoning layer is in build. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame with confirm locally attached.