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Illinois›Macon County
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South Macon TownshipIL

A town of 1,401, settled in 1857. 40% more nonprofits per person than the typical Illinois town.

Population
1,401
2025 Census estimate · −4.3% since 2020
Median home value
$119K
Census ACS
Household income
$78K
median
Median age
43.4
years
Jobs based here
351
A commuter town

Is South Macon Township a good place to live?

The best of South Macon Township’s subject grades is an A for civic life. 25% of residents are 65 or older in South Macon Township, against 19% in Illinois’ towns and 18% across U.S. towns. Homes are within reach, about $119K for a typical one, or 1.9 years of the Decatur metro’s $63K median household income. South Macon Township has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.

StrongestACivic lifeA−Cost of living

What makes South Macon Township stand out

Where South Macon Township beats most towns.

Community nonprofits per 1,000 residents

South Macon Township4.7
Typical U.S. town3.7
Typical IL town3.4
Civic lifeA
40% more nonprofits per person
than the typical Illinois town
Charities, civic groups and human services; churches not counted.
Small town

1,401 people, and everyone knows the way

In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.

Nearby towns
Macon · 1 miMoweaqua Township · 5 miMoweaqua · 6 miSouth Wheatland Township · 6 miPleasant View Township · 6 miMount Zion Township · 7 mi
Moweaqua TownshipSouth Wheatland TownshipPleasant View TownshipMount Zion TownshipMoweaqua TownshipSouth Wheatland TownshipPleasant View TownshipMount Zion TownshipSouth Macon Township

How South Macon Township grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Illinois), ordered by how far South Macon Township is from typical.

How grading works

Cost of livingA−Open →SchoolsB+Open →HealthSt. Marys Hospital 9.2 miles awayB+Open →Jobs & income$78K median household incomeBOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6 of 20; 1.3% of households have no car; 2.5% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC+Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 49% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors2% conserved landC+Open →HistoryC+Open →Civic life4.7 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsAOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 43.4; 15% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Getting set up

Moving to South Macon Township: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in South Macon Township, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →
PowerAmeren Illinois Company16.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterMacon water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet7 providers90% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have South Macon Township’s trash rules yet
SchoolsMeridian Community Unit School District 15Which school depends on your addressNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn Illinois you can register online until 16 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 28 days before).vote.gov
Who runs elections hereMacon County ClerkMacon County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP code6254462544 99%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in South Macon Township.

Work & commuteJobs & income grade B

About two in five of South Macon Township’s working residents commute to Decatur

Most working residents leave South Macon Township for work: only 10% work in town. Jobs based in South Macon Township grew to 351 in 2023, 122 more than in 2013. South Macon Township’s average trip to work is 28 minutes, where Illinois’ towns sit at 26 minutes and U.S. towns at 25 minutes.

10%work in town
South Macon TownshipIllinois townsU.S. towns
Average trip to work28 minutes26 minutes25 minutes
Below the poverty line6.1%8.4%9.6%
Working residents who work in town10%8.3%8%

Where working residents work

In South Macon Township10%
Decatur42%
Macon9%
Springfield4%
Bloomington2%
12 mi
median commute distance
351
jobs based in South Macon Township
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 44% of U.S. towns
Full pageSouth Macon Township’s work & commute pageOpen the page
The jobs here351 jobs based here · A commuter townWhere people work10% work in South Macon TownshipCommute times28 minutes · The average commuteHow far they goHalf commute less than 12 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

SchoolsB+

South Macon Township’s public schools outperform 69% of Illinois districts

Its public schools are run by Meridian CUSD 15. Its two schools are below.

69%of IL districts it outscoresB+School Grade
SchoolLevelStudentsLetter
Meridian Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8Grades 6–8195B−
Meridian High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12Grades 9–12287B−
Full pageSouth Macon Township’s schools pageOpen the page
The districtsMeridian CUSD 15Vs. the neighborsBehind its 3 graded neighborsEvery school2 schools · Meridian High SchoolQuestions“Are South Macon Township’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within IL on state tests and graduation

HealthB+

South Macon Township is healthier than 67% of U.S. towns

South Macon Township beats the Illinois average on 5 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 4. 9.9% of South Macon Township adults worry about having enough food.

67%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
South Macon TownshipIllinois townsU.S. towns
Food insecurity (CDC PLACES)9.9%13%14%
Obesity (CDC PLACES)38%37%35%
High blood pressure (CDC PLACES)37%35%35%
Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES)16%17%17%
32 measures vs. Illinois
5 better23 too close to call4 worse
What stands outSouth Macon TownshipIL
Fewer adults facing food insecurity9.9%15.9%
Fewer uninsured adults6.2%9.9%
More adults who have had cancer10.5%7.6%
St. Marys Hospital
9.2 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
Full pageSouth Macon Township’s health reportOpen the page
Everyday habitsMore smokersHospitals & doctors nearby9.2 miles to an ER · St. Marys HospitalHow adults are doingFewer adults in fair or poor healthEvery CDC estimateBetter than IL on 5 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Climate

South Macon Township has four seasons and pleasant summers

South Macon Township has chilly winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 86°, January nights drop to 19° and about 14 inches of snow falls in a winter.

14″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter22–38°
Spring42–63°
Summer64–84°
Fall44–66°
Oct 24
typical first frost
Apr 14
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
Full pageSouth Macon Township’s climate pageOpen the page
A year of weatherJuly highs 86°, January lows 19°Rain & snow14″ of snow a winter · 40 inches of rain and snow a yearHeating & coolingMostly a heating billThen and now+1.0° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

OutdoorsC+

South Macon Township has set aside 1.5% of its land for conservation

0.0 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve.

1.5%conserved
1.5%
conserved · 317 of 21,500 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
Biggest places to walkTrailsAcres
1. Macon Memorial Park—8
Full pageSouth Macon Township’s outdoors pageOpen the page
Trail map0.0 miles of trail, mappedPick a walk8 acres · Macon Memorial ParkConserved land1.5% conserved · 317 acres protectedQuestions“Where can I hike in South Macon Township?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B−

Inland flooding leads a moderate hazard risk in South Macon Township

Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 51% of U.S. communities.

49risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
49Moderate riskLowerHigher
Inland floodingCold wavesDrought
Full pageSouth Macon Township’s hazards pageOpen the page
What it facesModerate riskFlood claims0 paid flood claims · No paid flood claims on recordPast disasters9 disaster declarations · Declared for the countyGet ready1.4 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Keep exploring

Everything we know about South Macon Township

18pages on South Macon Township
The big questions
SchoolsB+Beat 69% of IL districts · 2 schoolsHealthB+Better than IL on 5 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingA−Work & commuteB$78K median household income · 351 jobs hereNatural hazardsB−FEMA risk higher than 49% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
OutdoorsC+0 mi of trails · 2% conserved landPlacesAttractions30 nearby · Scovill Zoo 10 miLibraryASouth Macon Public Library DistrictCollegesMillikin University is 10 mi away
The story
HistoryC+Settled 1857Town Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 467 residentsClimate86° summer highs · 14″ of snow
Day to day
NewsWeatherHandbookTown SquareNeighbors
After high school

Colleges nearby

2 within 15 miles of the center of South Macon Township

Millikin UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Decatur10 mi$26,892 tuitionRichland Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Decatur13.6 mi$4,680 in-state tuition

About 2 of every 100 South Macon Township residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Illinois.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

A commuter town

90% of working residents leave South Macon Township for work

Where South Macon Township’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.

42% → Decatur Decatur 42% 9% → Macon Macon 9% 4% → Springfield Springfield 4% 2% → Bloomington Bloomington 2% 2% → Assumption Assumption 2% 2% → Mount Zion Mount Zion 2% South Macon Township · 10% stay
351jobs based in South Macon Township
10%of working residents work in town
12 mimedian commute distance

Census LEHD 2023

About South Macon Township

Township in Illinois, United States

South Macon Township is located in Macon County, Illinois. As of the 2020 census, its population was at 1,468 and it contained 648 housing units. The city of Macon, Illinois is located in the South Macon Township.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Established
1859
Area
34 sq mi

Questions about South Macon Township

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is South Macon Township, IL a good place to live?

40% more nonprofits per person than the typical Illinois town.

Is South Macon Township, IL expensive?

Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A−.