Mason County, IL Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Mason County | Illinois Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 12,749 | 12,497,595 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 22.6 | 215.8 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -1.13% | -0.18% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 45.8 | 37.3 | 37.1 |
| Households | 5,712 | 5,000,691 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Mason County declined by 14.6% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 12,874 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Mason County has a the economy index of C, which means it is somewhat prosperous.
| Metric | Mason County | Illinois Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $62,739 | $82,179 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 5.35% | 4.78% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 6.1% | 5.8% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Mason County is about 24% lower than in Illinois.
Housing
| Metric | Mason County | Illinois Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $106,611 | $162,405 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $760 | $1,226 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 80.6% | 66.8% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Mason County is about 11.7 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $760 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Mason County spend about 56 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 231 hours, about 9.6 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Mason County | Illinois Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 27.8 | 23.8 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 55.5 | 47.6 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 231 | 198 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $7,171 | $6,148 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 14.0% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 2,792 | 7,977 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 406 | 1,547 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Illinois:
Edgar County (12.1 min), Brown County (12.8 min), McDonough County (13.0 min).
Slowest:
Calhoun County (46.4 min), Cook County (30.8 min), Kendall County (30.7 min).
The average commute time in Mason County is 28 minutes, longer than the 24 minutes in Illinois.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Mason County has a education index of F, which means it scores poorly in education.
| Metric | Mason County | Illinois Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.3% | 34.1% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.21 | 2.48 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Illinois:
DuPage County (0.4), Champaign County (0.4), Lake County (0.4).
Lowest:
Hardin County (0.2), Fayette County (0.2), Perry County (0.2).
Health
Mason County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Mason County | Illinois Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 76.0 | 77.9 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 16.9% | 15.6% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 20.5% | 19.2% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Illinois:
DuPage County (0.8), Champaign County (0.8), Monroe County (0.8).
Lowest:
Alexander County (0.8), Pulaski County (0.8), Gallatin County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Mason County, Illinois.
What is the population of Mason County, Illinois?
The population of Mason County, Illinois is 12,749, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Mason County, Illinois?
The population density of Mason County, Illinois is 22.6 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Mason County, Illinois?
The median household income in Mason County, Illinois is $62,739, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Mason County, Illinois?
The median home price in Mason County, Illinois is $106,611, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Mason County, Illinois?
The unemployment rate in Mason County, Illinois is 6.1%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.