Township · Illinois

South Wheatland Township, Illinois

South Wheatland Township, township, in Macon County, Illinois. South Wheatland Township had 3,859 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 4.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 4,040 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 3,958 (±28). GEOID 1711571357.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

3,859

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 4,040 · ACS 2020-2024: 3,958 ±28

Median household income

$94,427

±$6,346 (90% margin)
Illinois: $83,390

Median home value

$160,800

±$21,401 (90% margin)
Illinois: $263,300

Median gross rent

$919

±$703 (90% margin)
Illinois: $1,274

Where is South Wheatland Township and what county is it in?

South Wheatland Township is a township in Macon County, Illinois. It covers 27.8 square miles of land, 145 residents per square mile in 2020.

One place lies inside South Wheatland Township: Elwin (CDP, 119 in 2020). Part of Decatur (city) also lies in it.

South Wheatland Township is in the Decatur, IL metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

South Wheatland Township (marked with a dot) in Macon County, Illinois. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in South Wheatland Township, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 3,859 people lived in South Wheatland Township on July 1, 2025, down 4.3% since 2020, a steeper fall than Illinois's (−0.8%). The 2020 Census counted 4,040 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 3,958 (±28).

  • July 2020→2021 −43 (3,979)
  • 2021→2022 −51 (3,928)
  • 2022→2023 −30 (3,898)
  • 2023→2024 −13 (3,885)
  • 2024→2025 −26 (3,859)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
MeasureSouth Wheatland TownshipMacon CountyIllinoisChange since 2015-2019
Total population3,958±28101,84912,694,798no clear change
Households1,851±14043,4685,036,449+218
Average household size2.14±0.162.272.46−0.29
Housing units2,048±15549,6305,457,452+343

South Wheatland Township's population since 2000

From 4,185 in 2000 to 3,859 in 2025: down 7.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for South Wheatland Township as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

  • 2000 Census 4,185
  • 2005 (estimate) 4,097
  • 2010 Census 4,143
  • 2015 (estimate) 4,027
  • 2020 Census 4,040
  • 2025 (estimate) 3,859

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in South Wheatland Township?

The median resident of South Wheatland Township is 50.4 years old; 17.4% are under 18 and 29.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 98.3%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 0.9%.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
MeasureSouth Wheatland TownshipMacon CountyIllinoisChange since 2015-2019
Median age50.4±4.640.639.0no clear change
Under 18 years17.4%±3.8 pts22.6%21.8%–
65 years and over29.7%±5.0 pts21.0%17.0%–
Male53.0%±3.4 pts48.1%49.4%–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)0.0%±0.9 pts2.9%18.8%–
White alone, not Hispanic98.3%±1.3 pts73.3%58.1%no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic0.0%±0.9 pts16.2%13.3%–
Asian alone, not Hispanic0.8%±1.1 pts1.5%5.9%–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic0.0%±0.9 pts0.1%0.1%–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic0.0%±0.9 pts0.0%0.0%–
Two or more races, not Hispanic0.9%±0.8 pts5.6%3.4%–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic0.0%±0.9 pts0.4%0.4%–
Born outside the United States1.3%±1.2 pts2.7%14.7%–
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)3.3%±3.1 pts4.1%24.0%–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)5.8%±2.3 pts6.8%4.8%–
With a disability13.1%±3.8 pts14.9%12.1%–
No health insurance coverage1.5%±1.3 pts4.1%6.9%–
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)94.7%±3.7 pts93.1%90.5%–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)28.0%±5.5 pts24.4%37.8%no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)8.8%±2.7 pts8.3%15.3%–
Lived in the same house a year earlier93.3%±3.0 pts87.3%88.9%–
Moved from another state in the past year0.5%±0.8 pts1.3%1.6%–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in South Wheatland Township earn?

Half of South Wheatland Township's 1,851 households earn less than $94,427 a year (±$6,346), against $62,666 in Macon County and $83,390 in Illinois. In 2015-2019 it was $83,116 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
MeasureSouth Wheatland TownshipMacon CountyIllinoisChange since 2015-2019
Median household income$94,427±$6,346$62,666$83,390no clear change
Mean household income$120,024±$14,863$84,051$115,638–
Per capita income$56,197±$7,432$36,605$46,406+$13,434
People below the poverty line3.9%±2.8 pts15.0%11.8%–
Children under 18 below the poverty line6.7%±6.8 pts20.2%15.1%–
Households receiving SNAP3.8%±3.0 pts19.8%13.8%–
Households with a computer93.3%±4.5 pts93.8%95.2%–
Households with a broadband subscription90.1%±4.1 pts89.4%90.8%–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in South Wheatland Township?

Owners occupy 95.1% of South Wheatland Township's occupied homes and renters 4.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $160,800 by its owner (±$21,401).

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
MeasureSouth Wheatland TownshipMacon CountyIllinoisChange since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)$160,800±$21,401$127,300$263,300no clear change
Median gross rent$919±$703$847$1,274–
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent24.4%±38.4 pts31.8%39.0%–
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage$1,341±$67$1,292$1,987–
Owner-occupied homes95.1%±2.6 pts70.2%67.1%+6.1 pts
Renter-occupied homes4.9%±2.6 pts29.8%32.9%–
Housing units2,048±15549,6305,457,452+343
Homeowner vacancy rate0.0%±2.0 pts0.5%1.0%–
Rental vacancy rate0.0%±32.7 pts11.8%5.0%–
Single-family detached homes95.6%±2.5 pts78.5%58.2%–
Mobile homes3.0%±2.1 pts2.3%2.3%–
Built 2020 or later0.0%±1.8 pts0.3%0.7%–
Built 2010 to 20194.1%±1.9 pts2.1%5.0%–
Built 1939 or earlier10.5%±3.7 pts20.4%20.2%–
Households with no vehicle2.3%±1.7 pts9.5%11.0%–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How do people in South Wheatland Township work and get to work?

89.5% of South Wheatland Township's workers drive alone and 8.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 21.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.1%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
MeasureSouth Wheatland TownshipMacon CountyIllinoisChange since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)59.9%±6.0 pts58.1%65.0%–
Unemployment rate3.1%±1.9 pts6.8%5.8%no clear change
Drove alone to work89.5%±4.9 pts80.8%65.9%–
Carpooled1.9%±1.8 pts6.8%7.8%–
Public transportation0.0%±1.9 pts0.9%5.8%–
Walked0.0%±1.9 pts1.9%2.8%–
Worked from home8.6%±4.4 pts8.3%15.9%–
Mean travel time to work21.0 min±2.919.4 min27.8 minno clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What census tracts are in South Wheatland Township?

1 census tract lies mostly in South Wheatland Township, and 4 more reach into it (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in South Wheatland Township, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in South Wheatland Township
Tract 26.01Macon County3,778 $92,462 $160,70093%
Tract 26.02Macon County1,864 $90,781 $142,10029%
Tract 13Macon County2,432 $85,561 $118,1009%
Tract 12Macon County2,679 $53,631 $55,1001%
Tract 24.02Macon County5,027 $73,266 $155,1001%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in South Wheatland Township) · Census block assignment files

How does South Wheatland Township compare with other places in Illinois?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, South Wheatland Township is the 2,896th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 285th-most populous of 1,407 in Illinois.

South Wheatland Township ranks 410th of 1,380 places in Illinois with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

South Wheatland Township's rank in Illinois (1 = highest): by population among the state's towns and townships with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate285th1,407
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)1,236th1,347
Residents per square mile936th1,383
Median household income410th1,380
Per capita income150th1,383
Median home value743rd1,379
Bachelor's degree or higher531st1,369
Median age75th1,383
Owner-occupied share77th1,382
Work from home703rd1,015
Travel time to work1,067th1,382

South Wheatland Township's figures with every place in Illinois (CSV)

Every place in Illinois, sortable · Compare South Wheatland Township with other places

Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How reliable are the figures for South Wheatland Township?

24 of the 57 figures for South Wheatland Township on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.

The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for South Wheatland Township are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.