Macon County, Illinois Eviction Risk: Moderate

Macon County, Illinois scores 4/10 (Moderate) on the eviction-risk index, placing it 5th out of 102 Illinois eviction laws counties, meaning only 4 counties across the state carry higher landlord risk. With a total population of 89,708 spread across 15 cities, an average rent of $861, and a rent-burden rate of 25.9%, the county sits solidly in the higher-risk third of Illinois, and landlords entering this market should plan accordingly.

The county-wide average of 5.3 compresses a meaningful spread. Individual city scores range from 3.7 to 4.6, which may look narrow on a 10-point scale but translates to real differences in vacancy pressure, tenant financial stress, and collection risk neighborhood by neighborhood. A renter-share of 32.5% and a poverty rate of 16.3% reinforce that a substantial portion of the tenant pool faces recurring budget constraints, a factor that directly shapes eviction frequency and contested-case rates.

The cities inside Macon County

Decatur, the county seat with a population of 69,815, anchors the high end of the risk range at 5.4/10 and accounts for the large majority of the county's rental inventory. Boody follows at 4.4/10, and Maroa scores 3.7/10. These three communities drive the county average upward and represent the highest concentration of landlord exposure within Macon County.

Landlords willing to look at smaller, outlying communities will find somewhat lower risk profiles. Long Creek, with a population of 1,392, carries the county's lowest score at 4.7/10, while Forsyth (4.2/10, pop. 3,502) and Harristown (4.1/10) offer a middle ground. The variance underscores a critical point: risk in Macon County is not uniform, and city-level scores from the grid above should guide any acquisition decision more than the county average alone.

State-level laws that apply here

All landlords operating in Macon County are governed by 735 ILCS 5/9 (Forcible Entry and Detainer), the backbone of the Illinois eviction process. Nonpayment of rent triggers a 5-day notice under 735 ILCS 5/9-209; a material lease violation requires a 10-day notice; and a month-to-month holdover demands 30 days. End-of-fixed-term tenancies require no notice before filing. Uncontested cases resolve in 30 to 60 days; contested matters stretch to 60 to 150 days, a timeline that meaningfully affects carrying costs in a market where average rent is only $861.

On the cost side, court filing fees run $200 to $400, sheriff lockout fees add $60 to $200, and attorney fees typically fall between $750 and $3,500, making a single contested eviction a significant line item. For a full breakdown, the Illinois eviction costs guide covers each fee category statewide. Illinois state law does not require just cause for non-renewal and preempts local rent-control ordinances, so no city in Macon County can impose a rent cap, which provides investors meaningful pricing flexibility. Review the Illinois tenant protections guide to confirm what landlord-entry and retaliation rules apply to your specific lease structure, as statutes 765 ILCS 720/1 and 765 ILCS 742 govern retaliation and habitability standards across the state.

With 16.3% of residents below the poverty line and 32.5% of households renting, Macon County carries above-average tenant financial stress; use the city-score grid above to identify which specific markets within the county align with your risk tolerance before committing capital.