CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

39.78° N · 88.89° W · GEOID 1751206

Mount Zion

Macon County, Illinois · part of the Decatur, IL metro

IllinoisMount Zion, ILMount ZionMount Zion

The short answer

Mount Zion is home to 5,660 people. Median household income is $103,365 a year and median rent is $744 a month, 8.6% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is lighter than in most places. The median home is valued at $201,100, about 1.9x annual median household income.

What sets Mount Zion apart is how far household money goes. Money left after rent is $99,400, against $78,200 in its closest peers. Also notable: Rent run 31% below what its fundamentals predict in Illinois.

88OF 100

CTXCitytistics Index

Strong

Mount Zion scores better than 88% of the 6,612 places we rate, and ranks 72nd of 335 in Illinois.

How the CTX is built

Category ratings · 0 to 100, typical place 50

Affordability 20%99
Economy 20%46
Safety 20%96
Amenities 15%30
Education 10%56
Commute 10%72
Growth 5%12
Median gross rent
$744
45% below the median place
Median household income
$103,365
29% above the median place
Median home value
$201,100
37% below the median place
Unemployment
6.8%
38% above the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about Mount Zion

  • Value for moneyRent is light relative to pay, but the county has a FEMA natural hazard risk score of 83 out of 100. Budget for insurance before counting the savings.
  • HousingThe median home costs 1.9 years of the median household's income, fewer than in 95% of the 2,480 places under 10,000 people we track.
01

Moving to Mount Zion

Macon County loses about 6.0 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in2,935
Moved out3,417
Net−482

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Cook County, IL109118−9
Shelby County, IL114101+13
Moultrie County, IL9399−6

Within Illinois, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within IllinoisOther states

Income per tax return

Arrivals$54K
Leavers$73K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Macon County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
4.0% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 0.0% from another state. County figure.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Macon County report $54,300 a year in income on average; those leaving, $73,000, so leavers earn more than newcomers.
Income you would need
$29,800 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $744 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $1,914 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $201,100.
Getting to work
22 minutes each way on average; 5.9% work from home.
If it is close but not quite
Waterloo, IL matches it on character. Compare the two
Moved from another state1
0.0%
below the median place (median 2.0%)
Income of households moving in8
$54,284
23% below the median place
Moved here in the past year1
4.0%
29% below the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasureMount ZionAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year1County figure4.0%29% below
Moved from another state10.0%below (median 2.0%)
Net movers per 1,000 people8County figure-6.0below (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in8County figure$54,28423% below
Income of households moving out8County figure$73,0224% above
02

What it costs to live here

The median rent takes 8.6% of the median household's income, a smaller share than in 99% of the 2,480 places under 10,000 people we track. It is the 2nd-lowest of 335 Illinois places we track.

Mount Zion8.6%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$29,760
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
8.6%
58% below the median place
Home price to income
1.9x
49% below the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
9%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$99,000
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Mount Zion, $744 a month, and local prices for everything else (95.0 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Mount Zion.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Mount Zion? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Renters paying 30%+1
24.4%
52% below the median place
Property tax rate1
2.1%
131% above the median place
Homeownership1
81.4%
23% above the median place
All 16 cost and housing measures
MeasureMount ZionAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$74445% below
Rent to income18.6%58% below
Property tax rate12.1%131% above
Home price to income11.9x49% below
Prices vs US average2Metro figure88.412% below
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$1,09132% below
HUD area median income4County figure$95,10011% below
Property tax paid (median)1$4,22029% above
Median home value1$201,10037% below
Home prices, 1-year change5County figure5.1%60% above
Home prices, 5-year change5County figure44.3%14% below
Homeownership181.4%23% above
Renters paying 30%+124.4%52% below
Owner costs with a mortgage1$1,9142% above
Vacant homes1County figure12.4%76% above
Median year built119790% above
03

Work and pay

Commutes by transit is 0.0%, below the median place (median 0.8%).

Commutes by transit1
0.0%
below the median place (median 0.8%)
Works from home1
5.9%
53% below the median place
Median household income1
$103,365
29% above the median place
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureMount ZionAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$103,36529% above
Income per person1$41,8835% above
Unemployment1County figure6.8%38% above
Average annual pay6County figure$68,7644% above
Pay growth, 1 year6County figure1.4%62% below
Jobs6County figure45,16470% below
Poverty rate1County figure15.0%39% above
Mean commute122 min13% below
Works from home15.9%53% below
Commutes by transit10.0%below (median 0.8%)
04

Who lives here

High school or higher is 98.2%, 6% above the median place.

High school or higher1
98.2%
6% above the median place
Population change since 20207
-2.2%
below the median place (median 1.1%)
Homes with broadband1
95.0%
3% above the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

Household size2.7 +8%
Median age40.7 +4%
Bachelor's or higher35.4% +10%
All 9 people measures
MeasureMount ZionAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population15,6606173rd largest
Population change since 20207-2.2%below (median 1.1%)
Median age140.74% above
Bachelor's or higher135.4%10% above
High school or higher198.2%6% above
Household size12.78% above
Born abroad1County figure2.8%69% below
No health insurance1County figure4.1%36% below
Homes with broadband195.0%3% above
05

Life in Mount Zion

The nearest National Park Service site is Lincoln Home National Historic Site, about 41 miles away.

Founded or incorporated in 1881. 1 site is on the National Register of Historic Places. Its history on Wikipedia

  • Ulery, Eli, House listed 1979

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents21.2 2.1×
Playgrounds per 10k10.6 +13%
Grocery stores per 10k0.0 −100%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k0.0 −100%
Libraries per 10k3.5 4.1×
Named paths and bike trails0 km −100%
Bus and rail stops per sq mi0.0 −100%

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

National Park Service sites nearby

  • Lincoln Home National Historic Site 41 miles
  • George Rogers Clark National Historical Park 105 miles
  • Gateway Arch National Park 106 miles

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars21.4 +3%
Shops32.0 +6%
Arts, recreation and fitness4.8 +17%
Doctors' offices and clinics17.1 −15%
Child care centers1.0 −57%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Public schools14
5
44% below the median place
Public school students14
2,427
50% below the median place
Students per teacher14
17.1
11% above the median place
All 18 schools and local life measures
MeasureMount ZionAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools14544% below
Public school students142,42750% below
Students per teacher1417.111% above
Restaurants and bars per 10k9County figure21.43% above
Shops per 10k9County figure32.06% above
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k9County figure4.817% above
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k9County figure17.115% below
Child care centers per 10k9County figure1.057% below
Parks per 10k1021.2108% above
Playgrounds per 10k1010.613% above
Grocery stores per 10k100.0below (median 2.1)
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k100.0below (median 11.2)
Libraries per 10k103.5306% above
Named paths and bike trails100.0below (median 2.0)
Transit stops per sq mi100.0below (median 0.2)
Nearest National Park Service site1140.531% above
National Park Service sites within 60 miles11150% below
National Register listings12192% below
06

Safety, weather and risk

The city police department reported 0 violent offenses per 100,000 residents, fewer than in 98% of the 1,367 places under 10,000 people we track. It is the lowest of 294 Illinois places we track.

Violent crime per 100k
0
below the median place (median 192)
Property crime per 100k
409
66% below the median place
Months reported
12 of 12
by the city police department to the FBI

Counts only offenses reported by the city police department. Sheriff, state and campus police are not included, and some departments do not report to the FBI at all, so compare with care.

Wildfire risk16
21.1
65% below the median place
January average low15
19°F
26% below the median place
Hurricane risk16
37.1
48% below the median place
All 11 weather and risk measures
MeasureMount ZionAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high15County figure86°F1% below
January average low15County figure19°F26% below
Average temperature15County figure53°F4% below
Annual precipitation15County figure39.0 in11% below
Natural hazard risk16County figure83.310% below
Hurricane risk16County figure37.148% below
Tornado risk16County figure86.16% above
Wildfire risk16County figure21.165% below
Heat wave risk16County figure90.30% above
Median air quality index17County figure442% above
Good air days17County figure64.9%5% below
08

Mount Zion in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 9% of the median income in 2030, about the same as 9% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases. On projected 2030 affordability, Mount Zion does better than 98% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 35%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$744/mo (2024)$940/mo$770 to $1,140/mo+3.9%
Median household income$103,365 (2024)$131,500$111,000 to $155,500+4.1%
Median home value$201,100 (2024)$285,000$207,000 to $393,000+6.0%
Population5,880 (2025)5,8505,610 to 6,100−0.1%

The median home would be worth 2.2 years of the median income in 2030, against 1.9 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Mount Zion

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
Waterloo, IL$886$98,711Compare
DeWitt, IA$955$92,587Compare
Rockton, IL$914$119,058Compare
Uniontown, OH$1,014$93,393Compare
Uniontown, OHRockton, ILDeWitt, IAWaterloo, ILMount Zion, ILMount ZionWaterlooDeWittRocktonUniontownMount ZionWaterlooDeWittRocktonUniontown

Places built like Mount Zion

Its statistical peers: the closest matches on size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, origin and remote work, in the same part of the country. Cost and outcomes are left out of the match, so the table shows how Mount Zion performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
Mount Zion, IL8.6%3.8%/yr-2.2%
Howland Center, OH15.5%3.9%/yrn/aCompare
Fort Shawnee, OH13.7%4.6%/yrn/aCompare
Highland, IN20.8%5.7%/yrn/aCompare
Union, OH18.3%0.8%/yr4.0%Compare
Germantown, OH13.4%10.0%/yr2.7%Compare
Uniontown, OH13.0%6.9%/yrn/aCompare

Common questions

Is Mount Zion a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Its Citytistics Index is 88 out of 100, better than 88% of the places we rate and 72nd of 335 in Illinois. Rent is light relative to pay, but the county has a FEMA natural hazard risk score of 83 out of 100. Budget for insurance before counting the savings. The median home costs 1.9 years of the median household's income, fewer than in 95% of the 2,480 places under 10,000 people we track. On cost, space and class size it scores 94 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Mount Zion expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 8.6% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a lighter load here than usual. The median home is valued at $201,100.

What salary do you need to live in Mount Zion?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $29,760 a year. Work it out from your current city.

Is Mount Zion safe?

There were 0 reported violent crimes per 100,000 residents, against 192 in the typical place.

What places are similar to Mount Zion?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Waterloo, IL, DeWitt, IA, Rockton, IL and Uniontown, OH.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. Income Limits · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2026
  5. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  6. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  7. Population Estimates · US Census Bureau · Vintage 2025
  8. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  9. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  10. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  11. National Park Service sites · Wikidata (CC0), units operated by the National Park Service · Retrieved 2026-11
  12. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  13. Crime Data Explorer · Federal Bureau of Investigation · 2025 data
  14. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  15. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  16. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  17. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Mount Zion with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Mount Zion itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/mount-zion-illinois

Citytistics. “Mount Zion, Illinois.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/mount-zion-illinois/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.