The Town FilesMount Zion, Illinois
Village in Macon County · population 6,019 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $201,100
- Household income
- $103,365
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 48
- Median age
- 40.7
Mount Zion is a village of 6,019 people in Macon County, Illinois. The median home is worth $201,100, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for families than 78% of Illinois towns, more upscale than 76% of Illinois towns, better for retirees than 74% of Illinois towns.
How Mount Zion ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Mount Zion is worth $201,100, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $103,365, which is more affordable than 68% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $744 a month. 81.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mount Zion | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $201,100 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $744 | $960 |
| Median household income | $103,365 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 81.4% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Mount Zion
| People | Mount Zion | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.7 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.6% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 29.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.4% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.6% | — |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 21.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.9% | 90.4% |
Weather in Mount Zion
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 20.1°F. About 36.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.6 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 113 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
48 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mount Zion since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 20, 1976 about 4.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 78 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 68 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on June 23, 1960.
Severe weather in Macon County since 1996
Macon County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4728: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| February 9, 2007 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1681: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Macon County
Macon County had 45,051 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $67,788 a year. Unemployment was 6% in 2023; in Mount Zion itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in Mount Zion
5 public schools with 2,414 students, about 17.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mt Zion High School | 9-12 | 778 | 19.0 |
| Mt Zion Intermediate School | 4-6 | 521 | 16.3 |
| Mt Zion Jr High School | 7-8 | 402 | 20.1 |
| McGaughey Elem School | PK-1 | 366 | 16.6 |
| Mt Zion Elem School | 2-3 | 347 | 17.4 |
Towns near Mount Zion
- Decatur, IL5.6 mi · 70,522 people · home $99,600
- Forsyth, IL10.7 mi · 3,734 people · home $281,000
- Sullivan, IL19.6 mi · 4,413 people · home $102,500
- Monticello, IL23.8 mi · 5,941 people · home $210,500
- Clinton, IL25.4 mi · 7,004 people · home $102,800
- Shelbyville, IL26.2 mi · 4,674 people · home $116,400
- Taylorville, IL27.2 mi · 10,506 people · home $104,100
- Pana, IL29.1 mi · 5,199 people · home $77,900
Mount Zion questions
Is Mount Zion, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mount Zion scores better for retirees than 74% of Illinois towns and quieter than 62%. 19.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.7).
How much does a house cost in Mount Zion?
The median owner-occupied home in Mount Zion is valued at $201,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $103,365, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $744 a month.
What is the weather like in Mount Zion?
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 20.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.4 inches of precipitation a year and 13.6 inches of snow.
Does Mount Zion get tornadoes?
48 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mount Zion since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 20, 1976. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)