Mason County is a county in west-central Illinois, situated along the Illinois River northwest of Springfield and south of Peoria. Established in 1841, it developed as an agricultural county tied to river transportation and regional trade across the central Illinois prairie. The county is small in population (about 13,000 residents as of the 2020 U.S. census) and is predominantly rural, with dispersed communities and a limited number of small towns. Its economy is centered on row-crop farming and related agribusiness, with local services supporting residents and surrounding farmland. The landscape includes broad river bottoms and upland prairie, with extensive sandy soils that have historically supported specialty crops as well as irrigated agriculture. Cultural and recreational identity is shaped in part by the Illinois River corridor and nearby conservation areas. The county seat is Havana, located on the Illinois River.

Mason County Local Demographic Profile

Mason County is a rural county in central Illinois along the Illinois River, with the county seat in Havana. The profile below summarizes key demographics and housing characteristics from official U.S. Census Bureau county-level datasets.

Population Size

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Mason County, Illinois, Mason County had an estimated population of 13,091 (2023).

Age & Gender

County-level age and sex percentages are published by the U.S. Census Bureau in QuickFacts. According to U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (latest available at time of publication):

  • Age distribution (share of total population)
    • Under 5 years: 5.6%
    • Under 18 years: 19.6%
    • 65 years and over: 21.8%
  • Gender composition
    • Female persons: 49.9%

Racial & Ethnic Composition

The U.S. Census Bureau reports race and Hispanic/Latino origin as separate concepts. According to U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (latest available at time of publication), Mason County’s population composition includes:

  • White alone: 93.6%
  • Black or African American alone: 0.9%
  • American Indian and Alaska Native alone: 0.4%
  • Asian alone: 0.3%
  • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone: 0.0%
  • Two or more races: 4.7%
  • Hispanic or Latino (of any race): 2.1%

Household & Housing Data

Household and housing indicators below are from U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (latest available at time of publication):

  • Households: 5,626
  • Persons per household: 2.25
  • Owner-occupied housing unit rate: 77.9%
  • Median value of owner-occupied housing units: $104,500
  • Median selected monthly owner costs (with a mortgage): $1,092
  • Median selected monthly owner costs (without a mortgage): $466
  • Median gross rent: $627

For local government and planning resources, visit the Mason County, Illinois official website.

Email Usage

Mason County, Illinois is largely rural with low population density, and longer distances between towns can constrain wired broadband buildout, making digital communication more dependent on available fixed wireless, cable/DSL footprints, and cellular coverage.

Direct county-level email-usage statistics are generally not published, so email access is summarized using proxy indicators: household broadband subscription and computer availability reported by the U.S. Census Bureau (data.census.gov) (American Community Survey). These indicators track the practical ability to create and regularly use email accounts, especially for job applications, school portals, and telehealth.

Age structure influences adoption: older residents are less likely to adopt new digital services and more likely to rely on assisted access or in-person communication. Mason County’s age distribution can be reviewed through U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Mason County, which provides age brackets useful for inferring email uptake.

Gender distribution is typically close to parity and is not a primary driver of email adoption relative to age and connectivity; reference demographics are also available via QuickFacts.

Connectivity constraints are commonly reflected in lower broadband subscription rates and limited provider competition; local context is documented by Mason County government and statewide broadband planning resources from the State of Illinois Office of Broadband.

Mobile Phone Usage

County context and connectivity-relevant characteristics

Mason County is in central Illinois along the Illinois River. It is predominantly rural, with small population centers (notably Havana, the county seat) and large areas of farmland, forest, wetlands, and river valley terrain. These characteristics tend to produce uneven cellular coverage: signal quality is typically strongest along towns and primary road corridors and weaker in low-density areas where fewer towers serve larger geographic areas. Population density is low relative to metropolitan Illinois, which generally reduces the economic incentive for dense tower and small-cell deployment compared with urban counties.

Primary public sources for county context include the U.S. Census Bureau’s county profiles and geography datasets (for population, settlement patterns, and commuting context), such as Census.gov, and Mason County’s local government resources (for community and infrastructure context), such as the Mason County, Illinois official website.

Data availability and limitations (county-level)

County-specific statistics for “mobile phone ownership,” “smartphone vs. feature phone,” and “mobile-only households” are not consistently published at the county level in a single official dataset. The most robust county-level indicators typically available from federal sources relate to network availability/coverage (where service could be provided), not household adoption (whether households subscribe to and use it).

  • Network availability (supply-side): Best documented via the Federal Communications Commission’s Broadband Data Collection (BDC) and associated maps and downloadable data. Source: FCC National Broadband Map.
  • Household adoption (demand-side): The FCC publishes broadband subscription/adoption indicators, but these are more commonly presented at state/national levels or by technology type and not always in a granular county format for mobile subscription. The Census Bureau provides high-quality subscription data primarily for fixed broadband at detailed geographies; mobile subscription metrics are less consistently available at county resolution. Sources: American Community Survey (ACS), FCC Broadband Progress Reports.
  • Usage patterns (how people use mobile internet): Typically measured by commercial analytics or surveys that are not county-representative; public sources usually support qualitative characterization (rural constraints, reliance on mobile where fixed options are limited) rather than precise county estimates.

Because of these constraints, the sections below explicitly separate availability from adoption/use and cite the strongest public sources for each.

Network availability in Mason County (4G and 5G)

4G LTE availability (network presence)

In Illinois counties with dispersed settlements, 4G LTE is generally the baseline mobile broadband layer and is the most likely to be widely present across populated areas and major roads. The definitive public reference for where mobile broadband is reported available by provider is the FCC’s map and BDC data.

  • The FCC map allows viewing reported mobile broadband coverage by technology generation (including LTE and 5G variants) at fine spatial resolution, with filtering by provider. Source: FCC National Broadband Map.
  • The FCC BDC represents reported service availability and is updated periodically; it is not a measure of signal strength at every point or user experience. Methodology context is described by the FCC. Source: FCC Broadband Data Collection.

5G availability (network presence and typical rural patterns)

5G availability in rural counties often appears in two distinct forms:

  • Low-band 5G (broad-area coverage): Typically provides wider geographic reach but may deliver performance closer to advanced LTE in many real-world conditions.
  • Mid-band / high-capacity 5G: More commonly concentrated in higher-demand areas (town centers, denser neighborhoods, and key corridors) due to infrastructure requirements.

For Mason County specifically, publicly verifiable detail is obtained by checking provider-reported 5G layers on the FCC map; county-level generalizations beyond that are not consistently supported by a single official dataset. Source: FCC National Broadband Map.

Backhaul and tower siting influences (geographic factors affecting availability)

  • Low population density: Fewer towers per square mile increases the likelihood of coverage gaps and indoor coverage limitations outside towns.
  • River valley and wooded/wetland areas: Terrain and vegetation can reduce signal penetration and increase variability in rural reception.
  • Transportation corridors: Coverage is often prioritized along highways and routes connecting Havana and smaller communities, aligning with tower placement economics.

These are structural factors that affect network availability and quality, but they do not quantify adoption.

Household adoption vs. availability (clearly distinguished)

Availability (supply-side)

  • Availability refers to whether a provider reports that a given location can receive mobile broadband service (LTE/5G). The authoritative public tool is the FCC BDC map and datasets. Source: FCC National Broadband Map.

Adoption (demand-side)

  • Adoption refers to whether households actually subscribe to and use mobile service (and whether they rely on mobile as their primary internet connection).
  • County-level, mobile-specific adoption metrics are not consistently published in a single official table for Mason County. The ACS is strong for household internet subscription categories at small geographies, but it is primarily used to characterize broadband subscription patterns and digital access constraints rather than detailed mobile-generation usage (4G vs 5G) or device-type splits. Source: American Community Survey (ACS).
  • State-level broadband planning entities often summarize adoption and access challenges in rural areas; however, these are usually not broken down to Mason County for mobile adoption in a standardized way. Illinois’ broadband office and statewide plans provide context on rural connectivity and adoption barriers. Source: Illinois Office of Broadband / Connect Illinois.

Mobile internet usage patterns (what can be stated with public evidence)

Technology generation (4G vs 5G) usage at county level

  • Public, county-representative statistics distinguishing actual usage by generation (e.g., “percent of residents using 5G phones regularly”) are generally not published for Mason County by federal statistical agencies.
  • The most defensible county-specific statement is about where 4G/5G is reported available (coverage layers) rather than how much residents use each layer. Source: FCC National Broadband Map.

Practical rural usage patterns (supported as context rather than quantified locally)

In rural counties, mobile broadband is commonly used in three roles:

  • Primary connection for some households where fixed broadband options are limited or unaffordable.
  • Supplemental access for households with fixed broadband, especially for commuting, fieldwork, and travel.
  • Emergency and continuity access during fixed network outages.

These patterns are widely discussed in statewide and federal broadband reporting, but Mason County-specific rates are not consistently available in public datasets. Sources commonly used for statewide context include Connect Illinois and FCC broadband reporting such as FCC Broadband Progress Reports.

Common device types (smartphones vs. other devices)

County-level, publicly published splits between smartphones, feature phones, mobile hotspots, and fixed wireless customer premises equipment are limited. The most reliable public measurement of device-type ownership tends to come from national surveys (often not designed for county estimates).

What can be stated with high confidence and without over-precision:

  • Smartphones are the dominant mobile device type in the United States overall, and rural Illinois usage generally reflects this national pattern.
  • Non-phone mobile access devices relevant in rural counties include:
    • Dedicated mobile hotspots (used for home or travel connectivity)
    • Cellular-enabled tablets
    • Fixed wireless receivers (not “mobile phones” but sometimes conflated with wireless access in local discussions)

For Mason County specifically, device-type prevalence should be treated as not available at county resolution in standard public datasets; adoption discussions should reference broader survey sources rather than implying county-specific proportions. National methodological references include ACS (for household internet subscription categories) and other national surveys, though they do not yield definitive Mason County smartphone shares.

Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage in Mason County

Rural settlement pattern and travel behavior

  • Dispersed housing and longer travel distances can increase reliance on mobile connectivity for navigation, safety, and communications outside the home.
  • Service experience can vary sharply between towns (stronger indoor coverage, more capacity) and rural edges (weaker indoor coverage, fewer sectors per user).

Income, age, and household composition (adoption-related factors)

  • Broadband adoption in rural areas is commonly influenced by income, age, disability status, and educational attainment, with affordability and digital skills affecting subscription decisions.
  • County-specific demographic baselines used to interpret these factors are available from the Census Bureau. Sources: Census.gov and American Community Survey (ACS).

Land cover and river corridor effects (availability/quality-related factors)

  • Forested tracts, wetlands, and the Illinois River corridor can contribute to inconsistent coverage at the margins of tower footprints.
  • Agricultural areas often have fewer obstructions but can still have weaker service because tower spacing is driven by population density, not openness.

Summary: what is known reliably for Mason County vs. what is not

  • Reliably documented (county-specific):

  • Not reliably documented at county resolution in standard public datasets:

    • Mobile phone penetration expressed as smartphone ownership rates specific to Mason County.
    • Measured 4G vs 5G usage shares among residents.
    • Detailed device-type splits (smartphone vs feature phone vs hotspot) specific to Mason County.

  • Best-supported interpretation:

    • Mason County’s rural character and river/woodland land cover increase the likelihood of localized coverage variability, and official mapping should be used to distinguish where networks are available from how many households adopt and rely on them.

Social Media Trends

Mason County is a small, largely rural county in central Illinois along the Illinois River, with Havana as the county seat. Local employment and culture are shaped by agriculture, small-town services, and river recreation, with nearby regional ties to Peoria and Springfield media markets; these rural and older-leaning demographics are associated nationally with lower overall social media adoption than large metro areas.

User statistics (penetration)

  • County-specific social media penetration: No major public dataset regularly publishes platform-by-platform active-user penetration at the county level for Mason County.
  • Best available benchmarking (U.S. and rural context):
  • Local interpretation: Given Mason County’s rural profile and age structure typical of many downstate Illinois counties, overall social media penetration is generally expected to track below the national adult average, with heavier concentration among working-age adults and younger residents.

Age group trends (who uses social media most)

Nationally (used as the most reliable proxy for Mason County age patterns), usage skews strongly by age:

Gender breakdown

County-specific gender splits by platform are not published in standard public statistics. National patterns (proxy) show:

  • Women are more likely than men to use Pinterest and Instagram.
  • Men are more likely than women to use platforms such as Reddit (and often YouTube at similar or slightly higher rates depending on the measure).
  • Facebook tends to be broadly used across genders with smaller gaps than image-centric or forum-style platforms.
    Source: Pew Research Center: Americans’ Social Media Use (2024).

Most-used platforms (percentages)

No reputable source publishes platform usage percentages specifically for Mason County residents; the most reliable available figures are national adult usage rates:

Behavioral trends (engagement patterns and preferences)

  • Video-led consumption is structurally important: With YouTube as the top platform nationally, short- and long-form video drives a large share of time spent and discovery behaviors. Source: Pew Research Center (2024).
  • Community information-sharing remains Facebook-centric in many rural areas: National rural patterns show sustained Facebook use, aligning with local-news sharing, event promotion, community groups, and marketplace activity common in small counties. Source: Pew Research Center (2024).
  • Younger users concentrate on TikTok/Instagram/Snapchat: Under-30 users are more likely to use TikTok and Snapchat than older groups, shaping local engagement toward short-form video, messaging, and creator content among younger residents. Source: Pew Research Center (2024).
  • Platform selection tracks life stage and occupation: Working-age adults commonly mix Facebook/YouTube with Instagram and LinkedIn (where applicable), while older adults concentrate on fewer platforms with higher reliance on Facebook and YouTube. Source: Pew Research Center (2024).

Family & Associates Records

Mason County, Illinois maintains family and associate-related records primarily through the County Clerk, Circuit Clerk, and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). The Mason County Clerk issues certified copies of vital records such as birth and death certificates and records local marriage licenses and civil unions. Divorce, paternity, guardianship, and adoption-related case files are filed with the Mason County Circuit Clerk as court records, with access governed by Illinois Supreme Court access rules and confidentiality statutes.

Public databases are limited for vital records; most certified vital records require direct request processing rather than open online search. Court case information may be available through the statewide portal for participating counties, while official case documents generally require clerk access procedures.

Residents access records in person at the relevant clerk’s office in Havana or by mail request, using office-specific forms and fee schedules. Official county entry points include the Mason County, Illinois website, the Mason County Clerk page for vital records and marriage records, and the Mason County Circuit Clerk page for court records.

Privacy restrictions are significant for family records. Illinois vital records access is restricted to eligible requesters, and adoption records are generally confidential. Many family-court filings involving minors, abuse/neglect, or sensitive identifiers are sealed, redacted, or otherwise limited under court rules and state law.

Marriage & Divorce Records

Types of records available

  • Marriage records (licenses and certificates/returns)

    • Marriage license application and the issued license are created by the county clerk as part of the legal authorization to marry.
    • After the ceremony, the officiant completes the marriage certificate/return and it is filed with the county clerk, becoming the county’s official marriage record.

  • Divorce records

    • Divorce actions are maintained as circuit court case files. Key documents commonly include the judgment for dissolution of marriage (divorce decree) and associated pleadings and orders.

  • Annulment records

    • Annulments are handled as court actions (Illinois uses the term “declaration of invalidity of marriage”) and are maintained in the circuit court as case files, similar to divorce cases.

Where records are filed and how they can be accessed

  • Marriage licenses and marriage certificates/returns

    • Filed and maintained by the Mason County Clerk (county-level vital record for marriages).
    • Access is typically provided through in-person requests, mail requests, or other request methods offered by the county clerk’s office for certified or non-certified copies, depending on local procedures.

  • Divorce decrees and annulment judgments (and underlying case files)

    • Filed and maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Mason County as part of the court’s official records.
    • Access is generally through the circuit clerk’s records services (commonly in-person and, where provided, written requests). Public indexes, docket listings, and copies are handled under court record rules and local office procedures.

  • State-level holdings

    • Illinois maintains marriage and divorce information at the state level in limited form. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) does not function as a statewide repository for complete divorce decrees; it generally provides verification-type records rather than full court judgments.

Typical information included in these records

  • Marriage license/application and certificate/return

    • Full names of the parties
    • Date and place of marriage (or intended place/date on the application)
    • Ages and/or dates of birth
    • Residences and places of birth (commonly recorded)
    • Parents’ names (commonly recorded on applications)
    • Officiant’s name, title, and signature; date the marriage was solemnized
    • License number, date issued, and filing date

  • Divorce decrees (judgments for dissolution)

    • Names of the parties and case number
    • Date of judgment and court/judicial district identifiers
    • Findings regarding the dissolution and effective date
    • Orders on allocation of parental responsibilities/parenting time (where applicable)
    • Child support, maintenance (alimony), and division of property and debts (where applicable)
    • Restoration of former name (where applicable)

  • Annulment (declaration of invalidity) judgments

    • Names of the parties and case number
    • Date and terms of the judgment
    • Court findings on invalidity grounds as reflected in the judgment and orders
    • Associated orders addressing children, support, and property issues where applicable

Privacy and legal restrictions

  • Marriage records

    • Marriage records are generally treated as public records in Illinois, but certified copies are commonly issued only under procedures established by the county clerk (identity and fee requirements). Some data elements may be restricted in compiled or online formats under privacy and security practices.

  • Divorce and annulment court records

    • Court case records are generally public, but access can be limited by:
      • Sealed cases or sealed documents by court order
      • Confidential information protected by Illinois Supreme Court rules and statutes (e.g., Social Security numbers, certain financial account data, and protected personal identifiers), often requiring redaction
      • Protected information involving minors and certain family-law evaluations or reports that may be restricted from public inspection
    • The circuit clerk provides access consistent with court rules, applicable statutes, and any case-specific confidentiality orders.

  • Identity and eligibility requirements

    • Requests for certified copies and certain verifications commonly require proof of identity, payment of statutory or local fees, and compliance with office policies and state law.

Education, Employment and Housing

Mason County is a rural county in central Illinois along the Illinois River, with a county seat in Havana and small-village population patterns outside its river towns. The county’s population is older than the national average and is characterized by a low-to-moderate population density, a high share of owner-occupied housing, and a labor market tied to public services, healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture, and regional commuting to nearby counties.

Education Indicators

Public schools (counts and names)

Public K–12 education in Mason County is provided primarily through four local public school districts (school counts vary by how campuses are grouped year-to-year; the district-run sites below are the core public schools commonly listed for the county):

  • Havana CUSD 126: Havana High School; Havana Junior High School; Havana Elementary School; Broadmoor Primary School (campus naming may vary by grade configuration).
  • Midwest Central CUSD 191 (serves parts of Mason and nearby counties): Midwest Central High School; Midwest Central Middle School; Midwest Central Elementary (countryside campuses may be listed under Green Valley/Manito addresses).
  • Illini Central CUSD 189 (serves parts of Mason and nearby counties): Illini Central High School; Illini Central Middle School; Illini Central Grade School (campuses commonly listed under Mason City/Manito-area addresses).
  • Easton School District 13 (elementary): Easton Elementary School; high school attendance is typically via a tuition/feeder arrangement to a neighboring high school district.

District rosters and school profiles are published through the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) district directory and district report cards.

Student–teacher ratios and graduation rates

  • Student–teacher ratios: School-level ratios in rural Illinois districts commonly cluster around the low-to-mid teens per teacher; Mason County schools generally align with that rural pattern. For the most recent school-by-school ratios, the authoritative source is the Illinois Report Card (district and school profiles list enrollment, staffing, and class-size indicators).
  • Graduation rates: County districts typically report high-school graduation rates in the high 80% to mid‑90% range, consistent with many downstate Illinois districts, but rates vary by cohort size and district composition. The most recent cohort graduation rates by high school are provided on the Illinois Report Card.

Data note: A single countywide student–teacher ratio or graduation rate is not published as one official metric; the most accurate approach uses school-level ISBE report card values aggregated across the county.

Adult educational attainment

The most recent 5‑year American Community Survey (ACS) estimates for Mason County show:

  • High school diploma (or equivalent), age 25+: approximately 88–92%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher, age 25+: approximately 12–16%

These figures reflect a typical rural/downstate attainment profile: broad high-school completion with a smaller share of four‑year degrees than the Illinois statewide average. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (Educational Attainment table for Mason County, IL).

Notable programs (STEM, vocational, AP/dual credit)

  • Career and Technical Education (CTE): Like many downstate districts, Mason County high schools typically participate in CTE coursework (agriculture, industrial/technical pathways, business, family and consumer sciences), often supported through regional partnerships and shared career centers in the broader area. District program offerings are documented in local course catalogs and ISBE report card program indicators.
  • Dual credit/dual enrollment: Common across Illinois districts via nearby community colleges; participation varies by high school. Districts report dual credit participation through local program materials and in some cases on report cards.
  • Advanced Placement (AP): AP availability and participation are district-specific; smaller rural high schools often offer a limited AP menu, with additional advanced coursework delivered as honors, dual credit, or online.

Data note: A standardized countywide inventory of AP/CTE/STEM programs is not maintained in one public dataset; district course catalogs and ISBE profiles provide the most definitive listings.

School safety measures and counseling resources

Illinois public schools operate under state requirements for emergency response planning, safety drills, and threat assessment practices, with local implementation varying by district. Common measures in rural Illinois districts include controlled entry procedures during the school day, visitor management, collaboration with local law enforcement, and mandated safety drills. Student support services generally include school counseling and referrals to community mental-health resources; staffing levels and services are reported in district staffing profiles and, in some cases, in district board policies and student handbooks.

Employment and Economic Conditions

Unemployment rate (most recent year available)

The most recent annual unemployment measures for Mason County are published by federal and state labor market programs (LAUS). Recent years for Mason County have generally been in the low-to-mid single digits (post‑2022 labor market conditions), with seasonal variability typical in rural counties. The definitive annual and monthly series is available via the Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) and Illinois labor market dashboards.

Data note: A single “most recent year” value should be taken from the latest LAUS annual average for Mason County; that value is updated as BLS revises series.

Major industries and employment sectors

Mason County’s employment base is typical of rural central Illinois, with employment concentrated in:

  • Educational services and public administration (school districts, county and municipal government)
  • Health care and social assistance (clinics, long-term care, community services)
  • Manufacturing (smaller plants and light manufacturing in the region)
  • Retail trade and accommodation/food services (local-serving businesses in Havana and village centers)
  • Agriculture and related support (farming and supply chains; direct on-farm employment is smaller in payroll datasets but influential in the local economy)

Sector shares are best quantified using ACS industry-of-employment tables and Census employment profiles via data.census.gov.

Common occupations and workforce breakdown

Occupational patterns generally show higher shares in:

  • Production, transportation, and material moving
  • Office and administrative support
  • Sales and related
  • Management and professional roles (smaller share than metro areas)
  • Healthcare support and practitioners (tied to regional healthcare access)
  • Education and training (public school employment)

Definitive occupational distribution is available through ACS occupation tables for employed civilians age 16+.

Commuting patterns and mean commute time

Mason County exhibits a high rate of driving alone for commuting, limited transit use, and meaningful inter-county commuting to larger job centers in the Peoria and Springfield regions. ACS commuting estimates commonly show:

  • Primary commute mode: car/truck/van (drive alone dominant)
  • Mean one-way commute time: typically in the mid‑20 minutes range for rural central Illinois counties; Mason County commonly aligns with this pattern.

Source: ACS “Means of Transportation to Work” and “Travel Time to Work” tables via data.census.gov.

Local employment vs out-of-county work

A substantial share of residents work outside the county due to the limited number of large employers locally and the proximity of regional employment hubs. The most direct measurement comes from LEHD OnTheMap (where-worker and where-resident flows), which reports the in-county versus out-of-county share and primary destination counties for commuters.

Housing and Real Estate

Homeownership and rental share

Mason County’s housing tenure is predominantly owner-occupied:

  • Homeownership rate: commonly around 75–80%
  • Renter share: commonly around 20–25%

These are typical rural Illinois tenure levels and are reported in ACS tenure tables (occupied housing units by tenure) via data.census.gov.

Median property values and recent trends

  • Median owner-occupied home value: generally well below the Illinois median, commonly in the low-to-mid $100,000s range based on recent ACS 5‑year estimates.
  • Trend: Values have generally increased since 2020, reflecting statewide and national price appreciation, with slower growth than major metro areas and more volatility in thinly traded rural markets.

Source: ACS “Value” and “Selected Housing Characteristics” tables via data.census.gov.
Data note: ACS values are survey-based medians and can differ from listing-price measures.

Typical rent prices

  • Median gross rent: commonly in the $700–$900/month range in recent ACS 5‑year estimates, reflecting a limited multi-family supply and lower overall cost levels than Illinois metro counties.

Source: ACS “Gross Rent” tables via data.census.gov.

Housing types

The county’s housing stock is dominated by:

  • Single-family detached homes in Havana and village neighborhoods
  • Manufactured housing in some rural and small-town settings
  • Small multi-family buildings and apartments concentrated in town cores, with limited large apartment complexes
  • Rural lots and farm-adjacent residences, with larger parcel sizes outside municipal areas

This composition is consistent with ACS “Units in Structure” distributions for rural counties.

Neighborhood characteristics (schools and amenities)

Residential patterns generally include:

  • Havana: the largest concentration of services (schools, county services, retail, healthcare access, parks along the Illinois River), with neighborhoods that are typically within short driving distance of schools and downtown services.
  • Smaller villages and rural areas: lower-density housing, longer drive times to schools and daily services, and greater reliance on personal vehicles; proximity to river corridors and state routes influences accessibility and property characteristics.

Data note: “Neighborhood” conditions are not standardized in federal datasets at the county level; this summary reflects typical settlement patterns documented in local planning and Census place/tract geographies.

Property tax overview (rate and typical homeowner cost)

Illinois property taxes are levied primarily by local taxing districts (schools, county, municipalities, special districts). For Mason County:

  • Effective property tax rates are typically moderate to high by national standards but often lower than some Illinois metro counties, with school levies commonly the largest component.
  • Typical homeowner tax bills vary widely by municipality, school district boundaries, exemptions, and assessed value; the most reliable figures are published in county assessment and tax bill data and can be benchmarked using statewide summaries.

For comparative effective rates and median tax estimates, reference the ACS (selected housing costs) and local billing practices via the Mason County clerk/treasurer and assessment offices (local primary sources).

Overall data limitation: Several requested metrics (countywide school counts by campus, a single county graduation rate, and a single county unemployment annual average) are not maintained as one consolidated “county profile” figure in a single source; the most definitive values come from ISBE school report cards (education), BLS LAUS (unemployment), and ACS/LEHD (workforce and housing).

Table of Contents

Other Counties in Illinois