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Data on this report is based on areas within the legal city boundary, outlined in black on the map. Any additional neighborhoods shown on the map are associated with the city by name and are included for reference only.



Decatur, IL Real Estate Market

Source & Methodology

Analytics built by:   Location, Inc.

Raw data sources:   American Community Survey (U.S. Census Bureau), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Federal Housing Finance Agency.

Date(s) & Update Frequency:
  • Home Values, Rents: Reflects Q3 2023. Updated quarterly.
  • Setting, Housing Stock, Homeownership: 2021 (latest available). Updated annually.

Methodology:   NeighborhoodScout uses over 600 characteristics to build a neighborhood profile… Read more about Scout's Real Estate Data

Decatur, IL Housing Market Trends

With a population of 69,097, 30,718 total housing units (homes and apartments), and a median house value of $114,531, house prices in Decatur are some of the most affordable in Illinois as well as the nation.

Single-family detached homes are the single most common housing type in Decatur, accounting for 72.61% of the city's housing units. Other types of housing that are prevalent in Decatur include large apartment complexes or high rise apartments ( 17.68%), duplexes, homes converted to apartments or other small apartment buildings ( 4.77%), and a few mobile homes or trailers ( 2.80%).

People in Decatur primarily live in small (one, two or no bedroom) single-family detached homes. Decatur has a mixture of owner-occupied and renter-occupied housing.

At the end of World War II, American soldiers returned home triumphant and, with the help of the GI Bill, built homes by the millions on the edges of America's cities. These homes were predominantly capes and ranches, modest in size, but built to house a growing middle-class as the 20th century became the American century. Decatur's housing was primarily built during this period, from the '40s through the '60s. A full 44.84% of the city's housing hails from this era. Other housing ages represented in Decatur include homes built between 1970-1999 ( 31.35%) and housing constructed before 1939 ( 18.94%). There's also some housing in Decatur built between 2000 and later ( 4.87%).

Vacant housing appears to be an issue in Decatur. Fully 14.71% of the housing stock is classified as vacant. Left unchecked, vacant Decatur homes and apartments can be a drag on the real estate market, holding Decatur real estate prices below levels they could achieve if vacant housing was absorbed into the market and became occupied. Housing vacancy rates are a useful measure to consider, along with other things, if you are a home buyer or a real estate investor.

Decatur Home Appreciation Rates

Some of the lowest real estate appreciation rates in America over the last ten years have been in Decatur, where house values have increased just 39.45%, which is annualized rate of 3.38%. This rate is lower than the appreciation rate found in 90% of the cities and towns in America.

Appreciation rates are so strong in Decatur that despite a nationwide downturn in the housing market, Decatur real estate has continued to appreciate in value faster than most communities. Looking at just the latest twelve months, Decatur appreciation rates continue to be some of the highest in America, at 7.05%, which is higher than appreciation rates in 83.11% of the cities and towns in the nation. Based on the last twelve months, short-term real estate investors have found good fortune in Decatur. Decatur appreciation rates in the latest quarter were at 10.00%, which equates to an annual appreciation rate of 46.38%.

Importantly, NeighborhoodScout’s exclusive research found that Decatur's housing market shows one of the <a href="/blog/highest-appreciating-cities">top real estate appreciation rates in the U.S.A.</a> in the latest quarter, which may signal the city’s near-future real estate investment strength.

Relative to Illinois, our data show that Decatur's latest annual appreciation rate is higher than 80% of the other cities and towns in Illinois.

One very important thing to keep in mind is that these are average appreciation rates for the city. Individual neighborhoods within Decatur differ in their investment potential, sometimes by a great deal. Fortunately, you can use NeighborhoodScout to pinpoint the exact neighborhoods in Decatur - or in any city or town - that have the best track record of real estate appreciation, by the latest quarter, the last year, 2 years, 5 years, 10 years, or even since 2000, to assist you in making the best Decatur real estate investment or home purchase decisions.

Average Home Values

Median Home Value

$114,531

Decatur, IL Home Prices
> $1,351,000
$1,014,001 - $1,351,000
$676,001 - $1,014,000
$541,001 - $676,000
$405,001 - $541,000
$270,001 - $405,000
$135,001 - $270,000
$68,001 - $135,000
$0 - $68,000
0.3%
0.3%
0.1%
0.1%
0.7%
0.7%
0.5%
0.5%
1.9%
1.9%
5.7%
5.7%
27.5%
27.5%
35.1%
35.1%
28.2%
28.2%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes
Very Low

for Illinois

Very Low

for nation

Number of Homes And Apartments:

30,718

Decatur Appreciation Rates

Rent & Ownership

Average Market Rent:

$1,206 / per month

Homeownership Rate

Owners
Renters
Vacant
58.7%
58.7%
41.3%
41.3%
14.7%
14.7%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Housing Market Details

Age of Homes

2000 or Newer
1970 - 1999
1940 - 1969
1939 or Older
4.9%
4.9%
31.3%
31.3%
44.8%
44.8%
18.9%
18.9%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Types of Homes

Single-Family
Townhomes
Small Apt. Buildings
Apt. Complexes
Mobile Homes
Other
72.6%
72.6%
2.0%
2.0%
4.8%
4.8%
17.7%
17.7%
2.8%
2.8%
0.1%
0.1%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Home Size

No Bedroom
1 Bedroom
2 Bedrooms
3 Bedrooms
4 Bedrooms
5 or more bedrooms
2.0%
2.0%
13.2%
13.2%
34.3%
34.3%
38.6%
38.6%
10.3%
10.3%
1.6%
1.6%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes