City profile · Illinois · Census ACS 2023

Mason City, IL

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Mason City - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

2,094
Residents
$64,250
Median income
$92,200
Median home
$1,203
Median rent (state)

Mason City - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Mason City places in the 42nd percentile for household income and the 80th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

42nd
percentile, household income
7th
percentile, home value
36th
percentile, median rent
80th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Mason City, IL

Illinois's Mason City is a small town, with 2,094 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Mason City brings in $64,250 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 10.6%. Typical homes in Mason City are valued around $92,200, and the median resident age is 51.5 years. Educational attainment runs 20.4% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 49.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 0 residential units were authorized in 2024 (No Permits). Mason City reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 614.4 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA puts Mason City's yearly average temperature at 51.7°F with 39.3 inches of precipitation per year and 12.9 inches of snowfall.

Illinois tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Illinois scores 100.0 (Near Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,203 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $240 across Illinois, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 28.7 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

2,094 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Illinois

Median Household Income

$64,250 /yr

Poverty 10.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.0 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Illinois average

How does Mason City compare to other US cities?

Here's how Mason City stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 42% higher than other cities
Home value 7% pricier than other cities
Median rent 36% pricier than other cities
Safety 80% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Illinois, Mason City ranks #141 of 455 Illinois cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Mason City against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Illinois only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Illinois-relative analysis

Median Home Value sits close to the middle of Illinois's city distribution

Among the 1,315 Illinois cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Mason City ranks #910 - the 31st percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Mason City only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#723 of 1,311
45th percentile in Illinois
Median Gross Rent
#469 of 1,336
63rd percentile in Illinois
Median Home Value
#910 of 1,315
31st percentile in Illinois
Poverty Rate
#434 of 1,335
67th percentile in Illinois
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#566 of 1,336
57th percentile in Illinois

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Illinois only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

42ndIncome percentile
80thSafety percentile

42nd percentile nationally for median household income · 80th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Mason City's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Mason City's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 67 Avg. percentile National median
Mason City's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Mason City's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$92,200 Among the most affordable more affordable than 93% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Mason City $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Mason City, IL Mason City, IL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Mason City, IL-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Mason City, IL median $64,250/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Mason City, IL's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Mason City, IL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 20.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 10.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 49.9%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
2,094
Median Income
$64,250
Median Home Value
$92,200
Median Age
51.5
Poverty Rate
10.6%
Labor force participation
49.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
20.4%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
614.4
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
51.2
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
563.2
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
51.7°F
Annual Precipitation
39.3"
Annual Snowfall
12.9"

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,900 residents1,950 residents2,000 residents2,050 residents2,100 residents 202020212022202320242025 2,068 residents 1,956 residents ▼ -5.4%
Mason City's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 0

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
84.3%
Carpool
5.7%
Public Transit
1.2%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
7.0%
Other
1.8%

Based on 862 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Illinois - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$100
avg/month
Natural Gas
$90
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$240
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Illinois state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Illinois state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Mason City sits in

Cost of Living Index
100.0
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,203/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
28.7 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Illinois

Moweaqua
2,093 people
Albion
2,107 people
Lexington
2,074 people
Vienna
2,115 people
Hudson
2,048 people
Elwood
2,141 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Mason City's 2,094 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

North Judson, IN
2,094 people
Forsgate, NJ
2,094 people
Lampeter, PA
2,094 people
Patrick Springs, VA
2,094 people
Cuba City, WI
2,094 people
Colfax, CA
2,095 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Mason City's $64,250 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Dagsboro, DE
$64,250 median income
Kingsville, MO
$64,250 median income
Flushing, OH
$64,250 median income
Huntsville, OH
$64,250 median income
Geronimo, OK
$64,250 median income
Armour, SD
$64,250 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Mason City, IL Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Mason City, IL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 96.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 96.0% Black or African American 1.9% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 2.1% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Mason City compares to nearby Illinois cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Mason City (this city) 2,094 $64,250
Moweaqua 2,093 $71,364
Albion 2,107 $56,172
Lexington 2,074 $98,676
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IL FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Mason City, IL?

What is the population of Mason City, IL? +

Mason City, IL has a population of 2,094 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Mason City, IL? +

In Mason City, the typical household earns $64,250 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Mason City? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Mason City; the closest available measure is the Illinois state average, a cost of living index of 100.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Illinois vary by metro area.

Is Mason City, IL safe? +

Mason City has a total crime rate of 614.4 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Mason City, IL? +

A typical home in Mason City is worth $92,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Mason City? +

Climate normals put Mason City's yearly average temperature at 51.7°F, 39.3 inches of precipitation, and 12.9 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.