County · Illinois

Mason County, Illinois

Mason County, Illinois. Mason County had 12,411 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 5.1% since 2020, a steeper fall than Illinois's (−0.8%). It holds 23 places (9 cities, villages and boroughs, 13 towns and townships and 1 census-designated) and 6 census tracts. GEOID 17125.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

12,411

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 13,086 · ACS 2020-2024: 12,745

Median household income

$62,845

±$5,651 (90% margin)
Illinois: $83,390

Median home value

$103,400

±$5,819 (90% margin)
Illinois: $263,300

Median gross rent

$802

±$125 (90% margin)
Illinois: $1,274

How many people live in Mason County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 13,086 residents in Mason County. The Census Bureau estimates 12,411 for July 1, 2025, down 5.1% since 2020, a steeper fall than Illinois's (−0.8%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 12,745 over 539 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −224 (12,826)
2021→2022 −116 (12,710)
2022→2023 −130 (12,580)
2023→2024 −91 (12,489)
2024→2025 −78 (12,411)

Mason County in Illinois. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Mason County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	12,745	12,694,798	−876
Households	5,781±164	5,036,449	no clear change
Average household size	2.17±0.06	2.46	no clear change
Housing units	6,622±41	5,457,452	−433

Mason County's population since 2000

From 16,038 in 2000 to 12,411 in 2025: down 22.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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 16,038
2005 (estimate) 15,471
2010 Census 14,666
2015 (estimate) 13,862
2020 Census 13,086
2025 (estimate) 12,411

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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Mason County?

Mason County holds 23 places: 9 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 13 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 1 census-designated place. The largest is Havana Township with 4,170 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Mason County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Havana Township	township	4,360	4,270±30	$58,125	$102,000	18.0%	100%
Havana	city	2,963	2,989±216	$41,184	$95,300	24.0%	100%
Mason City Township	township	2,330	2,372±244	$66,951	$93,200	17.5%	100%
Manito Township	township	2,249	2,053±198	$68,942	$115,600	7.8%	100%
Mason City	city	2,077	2,159±246	$66,524	$91,100	16.7%	100%
Manito	village	1,552	1,692±205	$71,920	$112,600	8.3%	100%
Bath Township	township	737	652±153	$61,458	$86,100	13.7%	100%
Quiver TownshipGEOID 1712562419	township	732	689±182	$75,208	$88,300	7.3%	100%
Sherman TownshipGEOID 1712569329	township	493	537±181	$40,714	$79,000	20.9%	100%
Kilbourne TownshipGEOID 1712539870	township	492	549±164	$52,083	not published	10.4%	100%
Allens Grove Township	township	470	395±98	$58,750	$94,300	19.0%	100%
Forest City Township	township	464	440±127	$71,715	$111,300	25.9%	100%
Easton	village	312	285±70	$61,250	$81,700	16.5%	100%
San Jose	village	479	557±153	$55,809	$76,800	30.7%	61%
Bath	village	279	224±69	$47,500	$63,200	13.4%	100%
KilbourneGEOID 1739857	village	265	268±126	$44,107	$72,500	15.7%	100%
Lynchburg TownshipGEOID 1712545265	township	237	136±53	$57,788	not published	7.4%	100%
Salt Creek TownshipGEOID 1712567353	township	225	201±85	$96,406	$117,900	15.4%	100%
Forest City	village	222	223±74	$87,813	$86,300	28.3%	100%
Goofy RidgeGEOID 1730510	CDP	210	125±57	$38,750	$54,300	16.0%	100%
Crane Creek TownshipGEOID 1712517250	township	158	84±37	$73,750	$232,500	0.0%	100%
Pennsylvania TownshipGEOID 1712558629	township	139	367±219	$71,563	$131,300	2.7%	100%
TopekaGEOID 1775757	village	60	47±33	$77,500	$31,300	0.0%	100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Mason County?

The median resident of Mason County is 45.4 years old; 20.8% are under 18 and 23.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 94.2%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 3.1%. 0.9% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Mason County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	45.4±0.3	39.0	no clear change
Under 18 years	20.8%±0.3 pts	21.8%	–
65 years and over	23.1%±0.2 pts	17.0%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1.6%	18.8%	+0.5 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	94.2%±1.2 pts	58.1%	−2.3 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	0.5%±0.3 pts	13.3%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.4%±0.2 pts	5.9%	–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.2%±0.1 pts	0.1%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.3 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	3.1%±1.2 pts	3.4%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.3 pts	0.4%	–
Born outside the United States	0.9%±0.4 pts	14.7%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	2.2%±0.9 pts	24.0%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	8.3%±1.1 pts	4.8%	–
With a disability	17.9%±1.9 pts	12.1%	–
No health insurance coverage	3.9%±1.1 pts	6.9%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	93.0%±1.2 pts	90.5%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	17.1%±2.4 pts	37.8%	no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	5.5%±1.4 pts	15.3%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	0.9%±0.5 pts	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 Mason County earn?

Half of Mason County's 5,781 households earn less than $62,845 a year (±$5,651), against $83,390 in Illinois. In 2015-2019 it was $59,587 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 14.8% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Mason County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$62,845±$5,651	$83,390	no clear change
Mean household income	$78,083±$4,796	$115,638	–
Per capita income	$34,815±$2,109	$46,406	no clear change
People below the poverty line	14.8%±2.8 pts	11.8%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	19.6%±7.0 pts	15.1%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	15.5%±3.3 pts	13.8%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	87.0%±2.4 pts	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 Mason County?

Owners occupy 81.8% of Mason County's occupied homes and renters 18.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $103,400 by its owner (±$5,819). The median renter pays $802 a month including utilities, and 54.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Mason County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$103,400±$5,819	$263,300	no clear change
Median gross rent	$802±$125	$1,274	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	54.8%±10.9 pts	39.0%	+23.3 pts
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,140±$58	$1,987	–
Owner-occupied homes	81.8%±2.8 pts	67.1%	+4.0 pts
Housing units	6,622±41	5,457,452	−433
Homeowner vacancy rate	1.1%±0.9 pts	1.0%	–
Rental vacancy rate	4.0%±3.4 pts	5.0%	–
Single-family detached homes	88.9%±2.2 pts	58.2%	–
Mobile homes	4.2%±1.4 pts	2.3%	–
Built 2020 or later	0.3%±0.3 pts	0.7%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	29.1%±2.7 pts	20.2%	–

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 many new homes is Mason County building?

Builders took permits for 6 new housing units across Mason County in 2025 (6 single-family), 0.5 per 1,000 residents.

2019 4 units
2020 6 units
2021 7 units
2022 5 units
2023 7 units
2024 6 units
2025 6 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Mason County get to work?

82.8% of Mason County's workers drive alone and 8.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 30.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.9%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Mason County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	54.3%±2.6 pts	65.0%	–
Unemployment rate	4.9%±1.3 pts	5.8%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	82.8%±2.8 pts	65.9%	–
Carpooled	4.5%±1.3 pts	7.8%	–
Public transportation	0.3%±0.3 pts	5.8%	–
Walked	2.2%±0.9 pts	2.8%	–
Worked from home	8.2%±2.2 pts	15.9%	+4.1 pts
Mean travel time to work	30.4 min±2.4	27.8 min	+4.1 min

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 are Mason County's census tracts?

Mason County is divided into 6 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $41,184 (Tract 9565) to $79,392 (Tract 9564).

Census tracts of Mason County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 956317125956300	Manito (40%)	2,695	2,485±200	$70,775	$114,600	$818	11.1%
Tract 956417125956400	Goofy Ridge (10%)	1,858	1,716±186	$79,392	$116,400	$946	6.2%
Tract 956517125956500	Havana (90%)	2,990	2,989±216	$41,184	$95,300	$625	24.0%
Tract 956617125956600	Kilbourne (14%)	1,762	1,599±234	$59,615	$91,000	$783	9.8%
Tract 956717125956700	San Jose (10%)	1,650	1,748±251	$61,333	$109,700	$753	16.2%
Tract 956817125956800	Mason City (93%)	2,131	2,208±244	$67,165	$92,000	$767	16.3%

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

How does Mason County compare with Illinois's other counties?

Mason County's rank among Illinois's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	82nd of 102
Growth 2020-2025	95th of 102
Residents per square mile	85th of 102
Median household income	69th of 102
Median home value	87th of 102
Median gross rent	56th of 102
Poverty rate	26th of 102
Bachelor's degree or higher	86th of 102
Median age	14th of 102

Every county in Illinois

Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Mason County 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.