Mason County, Illinois Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Mason County, Illinois, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in Mason County, Illinois. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Mason County, Illinois. The estimated population of Mason County, Illinois is 13,225 people, with a median age of 45.2.

We can look at the total population in Mason County over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
13,225
 -1.94% -4.88%
2020
13,486
 -0.99% -
2019
13,621
 -1.14% -
2018
13,778
 -0.91% -
2017
13,904
 - -

Population of Mason County, Illinois by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
96.1%
96.7%
 -0.62%
Black/African American
0.5%
0.6%
 -16.67%
Native
0.1%
0.1%
 0.00%
Hispanic
1.3%
1%
 +30.00%
Asian
0.2%
0.2%
 0.00%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0%
 0.00%
Two Or More Races
1.8%
1.4%
 +28.57%
Other
0%
0%
 0.00%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of Mason County, Illinois by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 45.2 -0.44% 44.7 0% 45.7 -0.87%
2020 45.4 +0.44% 44.7 0% 46.1 +0.88%
2019 45.2 -0.22% 44.7 +0.68% 45.7 -0.22%
2018 45.3 -0.44% 44.4 -0.67% 45.8 -0.65%
2017 45.5 - 44.7 - 46.1 -

The median age of Mason County, Illinois gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 793 -19.59% 639 +2.8% 647 654
10 to 19 837 +5.34% 914 -7.47% 880 845
20 to 29 711 -3.83% 638 +4.05% 684 663
30 to 39 772 -10.99% 720 -2.24% 689 699
40 to 49 849 -0.86% 851 -3.97% 841 814
50 to 59 1,097 -3.99% 1,135 -19.46% 1,052 929
60 to 69 950 -5.95% 889 +1.05% 894 891
70+ 939 -5.5% 1,170 -0.99% 888 1,155

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Mason County, Illinois is $54,415.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for Mason County.

  • Under 25
    $48,547.00
  • 25 to 44
    $67,770.00
  • 45 to 64
    $63,771.00
  • 65 and over
    $42,176.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in Mason County, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Mason County, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of Mason County, Illinois is currently $71,207.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

4.39% of households in Mason County are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of Mason County against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    18.58%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    27.18%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    20.43%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    11.61%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    14.51%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    3.30%
  • $200,000 or more
    4.39%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Mason County is $31,294.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of Mason County by the total population of Mason County.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Mason County, Illinois, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Mason County to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    7.29%
  • Bachelor's degree
    19.29%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    14.48%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    56.90%
  • Less than high school diploma
    2.03%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in Mason County that are over the age of 16.

The total population of Mason County over the age of 16 is 10,836.

Of those people, a total of 58.90% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in Mason County is 55.70%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 637 45.70% 22.30%
20 to 24 years 641 75.20% 4.30%
25 to 29 years 706 90.50% 5.50%
30 to 34 years 690 89.00% 13.00%
35 to 44 years 1,517 86.60% 2.00%
45 to 54 years 1,701 89.50% 5.70%
55 to 59 years 1,116 68.10% 1.80%
60 to 64 years 891 42.60% 0.30%
65 to 74 years 1,671 19.70% 1.50%
75 years and over 1,266 3.70% 0.00%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Mason County. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 10,509 59.10% 4.40%
Black or African American 51 11.80% 0.00%
American Indian and Alaska Native 15 20.00% 0.00%
Asian 30 60.00% 0.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.00% 0.00%
Other 45 28.90% 0.00%
Two or more races 186 69.40% 46.50%
Hispanic or Latino 138 49.30% 0.00%
Not Hispanic or Latino 10,450 59.20% 4.40%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Mason County as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Mason County is 6,033, with median earnings of $34,987.00.

Women in Mason County, Illinois earning approximately 67.30% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 6,033 $34,987.00
Male 3,252 $42,447.00
Female 2,781 $28,548.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 592 $45,300.00
Business and Financial 221 $55,893.00
Computer and Mathematical 37 $79,250.00
Architecture and Engineering 39 $49,028.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 95 $31,709.00
Community and Social Service 55 $41,736.00
Legal 36 $45,625.00
Educational and Library 254 $34,063.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 29 $31,964.00
Healthcare Practitioners 410 $56,250.00
Healthcare Support 307 $22,946.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 46 $33,750.00
Law Enforcement 95 $60,341.00
Food Preparation and Serving 423 $14,471.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 211 $15,795.00
Personal Care and Service 104 $12,961.00
Sales 577 $26,283.00
Office and Administrative Support 574 $34,631.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 175 $30,391.00
Construction and Extraction 428 $40,847.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 209 $56,771.00
Production 335 $39,821.00
Transportation and Material Moving 491 $46,286.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 429 $50,469.00 163 $39,702.00
Business and Financial 120 $63,500.00 101 $53,015.00
Computer and Mathematical 32 $88,125.00 5 $0.00
Architecture and Engineering 35 $48,472.00 4 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 53 $31,953.00 42 $31,591.00
Community and Social Service 23 $60,208.00 32 $41,346.00
Legal 8 $0.00 28 $38,125.00
Educational and Library 47 $46,250.00 207 $33,594.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 17 $32,321.00 12 $26,250.00
Healthcare Practitioners 41 $57,768.00 369 $54,866.00
Healthcare Support 20 $15,714.00 287 $23,345.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 46 $33,750.00 0 $0.00
Law Enforcement 63 $64,306.00 32 $52,917.00
Food Preparation and Serving 117 $18,567.00 306 $12,700.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 144 $23,571.00 67 $12,422.00
Personal Care and Service 15 $0.00 89 $13,454.00
Sales 263 $46,250.00 314 $20,603.00
Office and Administrative Support 79 $62,708.00 495 $32,683.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 144 $37,500.00 31 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 417 $40,625.00 11 $0.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 209 $56,771.00 0 $0.00
Production 265 $40,739.00 70 $38,000.00
Transportation and Material Moving 451 $46,649.00 40 $16,912.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 5,790 households in Mason County, with an average household size of 2.25 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 3,560 families in Mason County with an average family size of 2.78 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 2,736 277 547 2,230
Average Household Size 2.84 2.92 3.21 1.21
Total Families 2,736 277 547 0
Average Household Size 2.83 2.48 2.7 0

Poverty

Of the 3,560 families in Mason County, 10.50% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Mason County:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 6,688 housing units in Mason County, Illinois.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 5,790 86.57%
Vacant 898 13.43%

15.12% of the total 6,688 housing units in Mason County are rental units. This is approximately 1,011 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 4,581 are occupied by the owner - or 68.50% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Mason County is $688.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Mason County that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    198
  • Less than $500
    204
  • $500 to $999
    710
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    91
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    2
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    0
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    4
  • $3,000 or more
    0

Property Value

The median value of a property in Mason County is $86,200.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in Mason County that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    901
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    2,037
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    865
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    469
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    259
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    38
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    12
  • $1,000,000 or more
    0

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in Mason County. The chart below shows the number of properties in Mason County that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    1,818
  • 1940 to 1949
    492
  • 1950 to 1959
    868
  • 1960 to 1969
    690
  • 1970 to 1979
    1,356
  • 1980 to 1989
    416
  • 1990 to 1999
    481
  • 2000 to 2009
    383
  • 2010 to 2013
    184
  • 2014 or later
    0

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in Mason County that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    287
  • 1 vehicle available
    1,627
  • 2 vehicles available
    2,306
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    1,570

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in Mason County get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in Mason County that commute to work in a particular way.

26.8 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Mason County.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    686
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    875
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    439
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    395
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    458
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    284
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    458
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    171
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    274
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    909
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    442
  • 90 or more minutes
    117

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Mason County, Illinois in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

Places in Mason County, Illinois

We have data for 16 places in Mason County, Illinois. Click on a place below to see more information about the demographics of that place.