Massac County

Massac County is a small, largely rural county in far southern Illinois, situated along the Ohio River at the state’s border with Kentucky. It forms part of the broader Southern Illinois region and lies near the confluence area of the Ohio and Mississippi river systems, shaping its settlement patterns and transportation connections. Established in 1843, the county developed around river commerce and regional trade routes linking the lower Midwest and Upper South. Today, Massac County has a population of roughly 14,000–15,000 residents, with most development concentrated in and around its principal communities. The landscape includes river lowlands and wooded uplands typical of the Shawnee Hills vicinity, supporting agriculture, outdoor recreation, and related services. The local economy centers on public-sector employment, small businesses, and industries tied to its transportation corridor and nearby river infrastructure. The county seat is Metropolis, the largest city and primary administrative and service center.

Massac County is located in far southern Illinois along the Ohio River, bordering Kentucky, with Metropolis as the county seat. The county is part of the broader Southern Illinois region and is administered locally through county government offices in Metropolis.

Population Size

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Massac County, Illinois, the county had a population of 14,066 (2020). The same Census Bureau source provides annual population updates via its “Population estimates” series for the county.

Age & Gender

County-level age distribution and sex (gender) breakdown are published by the U.S. Census Bureau through QuickFacts and related data tables. For the most current county profile figures, see the “Age and Sex” and “Persons” sections in QuickFacts: Massac County, Illinois.

Racial & Ethnic Composition

The U.S. Census Bureau reports race and Hispanic/Latino ethnicity for Massac County in its county profile products. Current county-level percentages by race and Hispanic/Latino origin are listed in the “Race and Hispanic Origin” section of QuickFacts: Massac County, Illinois.

Household & Housing Data

Key household and housing indicators for Massac County (including household counts, persons per household, owner-occupied housing rate, median value, and related measures) are provided in the “Housing” and “Families & Living Arrangements” sections of U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Massac County, Illinois.

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

Massac County is a small, largely rural county in far southern Illinois; low population density and dispersed housing generally increase last‑mile network costs, which can constrain always‑on digital communication such as email.

Direct county-level email-usage statistics are not typically published; email adoption is commonly inferred from household internet and device access. The most accessible proxies are American Community Survey (ACS) indicators on broadband subscriptions and computer ownership from the U.S. Census Bureau’s data portal, which can be used to summarize the share of households with broadband (cable/fiber/DSL) and with a computer (desktop/laptop/tablet). Lower broadband and computer access generally corresponds to lower routine email use.

Age structure also shapes email uptake: older populations tend to use email but may adopt new devices and online accounts more slowly than working-age adults. Massac County’s age distribution can be referenced via ACS demographic tables.

Gender differences are typically smaller than age and access factors; county gender composition from the U.S. Census Bureau is mainly relevant for contextualizing workforce and household patterns.

Connectivity limitations are commonly assessed using the FCC National Broadband Map and state resources from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, which document coverage gaps and technology availability.

Massac County is located in far southern Illinois along the Ohio River, with its county seat in Metropolis. The county is predominantly rural outside the Metropolis area, with relatively low population density compared with Illinois’s metropolitan counties. River valleys, wooded areas, and dispersed housing patterns common in southern Illinois can complicate mobile network design by increasing the number of sites needed for consistent coverage and indoor signal strength, particularly away from primary highways and town centers.

Data availability and scope notes (county-level limitations)

County-specific statistics for “mobile penetration” (such as smartphone ownership, mobile-only households, or mobile broadband subscriptions) are not consistently published at the county level. The most systematic county-scale sources for connectivity are:

• Network availability (supply-side coverage) from the Federal Communications Commission’s Broadband Data Collection, summarized in the National Broadband Map.
• Household adoption (demand-side subscriptions) from FCC subscription datasets and some state reporting; these are often more available at the census tract or state level than as a single county indicator.

Where county-level adoption measures are unavailable or not published, the overview distinguishes clearly between availability and adoption and cites the closest authoritative sources.

Network availability (coverage) in Massac County

Network availability refers to whether mobile providers report service as available at locations, not whether households subscribe or use it.

FCC-reported mobile broadband availability (4G/5G)

The most direct public reference for Massac County’s mobile broadband availability is the FCC’s location-based coverage reporting:

• The FCC National Broadband Map provides county views for mobile broadband and distinguishes technology generations (including 4G LTE and 5G variants) by provider-reported coverage.
• The FCC’s Broadband Data Collection (BDC) program describes how availability is collected and the key methodological distinction between availability reporting and actual subscriptions.

Interpretation for Massac County: FCC mobile coverage layers typically show broader availability along road corridors and within/near incorporated places such as Metropolis, with potentially more variable performance in sparsely populated areas. The FCC map is the authoritative public reference for identifying which providers report LTE and 5G coverage at specific locations in the county.

5G availability versus 4G LTE

• 4G LTE is generally the baseline mobile broadband technology across most U.S. counties, including rural counties, due to longer deployment history and broader geographic reach.
• 5G availability varies by provider and band. The FCC map differentiates 5G coverage where providers report it, but the map does not equate to uniform real-world speeds indoors or at cell edges.

For provider-by-provider and location-specific availability in Massac County, the FCC map is the appropriate tool for identifying where 5G is reported versus where LTE is the primary layer.

Household adoption and mobile access indicators (use/subscription)

Adoption refers to whether households actually subscribe to and use mobile service or mobile broadband.

County-level adoption indicators (publicly available)

A single, consistently published county-level figure for smartphone ownership or mobile-only households is not reliably available from federal statistical programs as a standard table product. The most commonly cited federal sources for adoption (often at state or national level, sometimes at sub-state geographies depending on the table) include:

• The U.S. Census Bureau’s data.census.gov portal, which hosts American Community Survey (ACS) tables related to internet subscriptions and computer/internet access. These tables primarily focus on whether households have internet subscriptions (including cellular data plans in some ACS products) and types of computing devices, though availability of specific breakdowns can vary by release and geography.
• FCC subscription and adoption reporting referenced through the FCC broadband data pages, which provide the framework for fixed and mobile broadband reporting and, in some products, subscription counts at various geographic levels.

Limitation statement: The ACS is the primary public survey for household connectivity characteristics, but county-level estimates for detailed mobile-specific measures can be limited by table availability, sampling, and publication format. As a result, county-level “mobile penetration” is often inferred indirectly (for example, via household internet subscription types) rather than reported as a direct smartphone-ownership percentage.

Distinguishing “mobile internet available” vs “mobile internet adopted”

• Available: Providers report LTE/5G service at a location (FCC availability).
• Adopted: Households choose to subscribe and actively use mobile service and/or mobile broadband (subscription/adoption).

In rural counties, availability can be widespread along major routes while adoption can still be constrained by affordability, device costs, plan limits, indoor coverage quality, and the presence or absence of strong competitive choice.

Mobile internet usage patterns (4G/5G) and typical constraints in rural counties

County-specific traffic or usage intensity (for example, share of data on 5G vs LTE) is generally not published publicly at the county level. Patterns are therefore described in terms of technology characteristics and how they typically manifest in rural geographies:

• 4G LTE as a broad-coverage layer: LTE networks are usually the most geographically extensive and are often the primary layer in less densely populated areas.
• 5G concentrated in higher-demand areas: 5G availability is often more concentrated near population centers and along key transportation corridors; the FCC map provides the formal coverage assertions by providers.
• Indoor and edge-of-coverage performance: In rural terrain with dispersed residences, indoor performance can diverge from outdoor availability due to building materials, distance from towers, and topography (including wooded areas and river valley effects). Public maps indicate availability, not guaranteed indoor performance.

For Illinois-specific broadband planning context and statewide mapping initiatives that complement federal reporting, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is the principal state agency associated with broadband programs and coordination.

Common device types (smartphones vs. other devices)

Direct county-level device-type splits (smartphones vs feature phones vs hotspots vs tablets) are not typically published in official datasets for a county the size of Massac. The best-supported public framing uses household survey categories and national patterns, with careful limits:

• The ACS includes device categories in some products (desktop/laptop, smartphone, tablet, etc.) and internet subscription concepts; county availability of these specific cross-tabs varies by release. The most authoritative access point for these tables is data.census.gov.
• In practice, smartphones are the dominant endpoint for mobile connectivity in the United States, and feature phones represent a smaller share nationally; however, a precise Massac County percentage is not available as a standard published county statistic from federal sources.

Limitation statement: Without a county-representative survey product explicitly publishing smartphone ownership/device shares for Massac County, device-type composition cannot be stated quantitatively for the county.

Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage and connectivity in Massac County

The factors below are documented drivers of rural connectivity outcomes and are relevant to Massac County’s setting; they describe mechanisms rather than asserting county-specific measured effects:

• Rural settlement pattern and low density: Lower density reduces the economic efficiency of adding cell sites and backhaul, which can affect coverage consistency and capacity away from Metropolis and primary corridors.
• Proximity to town centers and highways: Coverage and performance typically improve near incorporated areas and major routes due to higher demand and easier site placement.
• Terrain and land cover: River-adjacent areas, forested tracts, and uneven terrain can introduce signal attenuation and complicate line-of-sight, influencing real-world coverage quality.
• Socioeconomic constraints affecting adoption: Adoption can lag availability due to device cost, monthly plan affordability, credit requirements, and reliance on prepaid plans. Publicly published county-specific mobile-only or smartphone-ownership rates are limited, but socioeconomic variables are available through the Census Bureau for context via the American Community Survey (ACS) and data.census.gov.

Local and authoritative references for Massac County connectivity context

• FCC availability and provider reporting: FCC National Broadband Map and FCC Broadband Data Collection.
• Official county context (geography, communities, services): Massac County, Illinois official website.
• State broadband coordination and programs: Illinois DCEO.
• Household connectivity and (where available) device/internet subscription survey tables: data.census.gov and ACS overview.

Summary (availability vs adoption)

• Network availability: The FCC National Broadband Map is the definitive public source for where providers report LTE and 5G mobile broadband availability within Massac County.
• Household adoption: County-level, mobile-specific adoption metrics (smartphone ownership, mobile-only households, mobile broadband subscription rates) are not consistently published as a single county statistic in standard federal releases; adoption is best approximated through Census/ACS connectivity tables where available and through FCC subscription/adoption products at the geographic levels they publish.
• Practical implication for Massac County’s rural geography: Reported availability can be broad, while the lived experience of performance and the rate of household adoption can vary substantially by location (town vs dispersed rural areas) and by socioeconomic conditions, with the strongest public evidence for availability coming from FCC location-based reporting rather than countywide adoption indicators.

Massac County is in far southern Illinois along the Ohio River, anchored by Metropolis (the county seat) and shaped by small‑town settlement patterns and a regional economy tied to services, river/transport corridors, and nearby interstate travel. These characteristics commonly correspond with social media use patterns seen in other rural and micropolitan parts of the Midwest, including heavier reliance on a small set of mainstream platforms and higher usage among younger and middle‑aged adults.

User statistics (penetration / active use)

• Direct county-level social media penetration estimates are not published in major U.S. surveys. Most reputable sources report social media use at the national or state level rather than by county.
• National benchmarks from the Pew Research Center social media fact sheet show:
  • 69% of U.S. adults use at least one social media site (Pew).
• National benchmarks from the Pew Research Center internet and broadband fact sheet provide relevant context because social media activity tracks internet access:
  • ~90% of U.S. adults use the internet (Pew).
• Practical implication for Massac County: social media participation is best interpreted using these national rates alongside local connectivity indicators (household internet access and smartphone adoption), which tend to be the primary constraints in rural counties.

Age group trends (who uses social media most)

Pew consistently finds a strong age gradient in social media use (Pew social media fact sheet):

• 18–29: highest usage (typically ~80–90%+ use at least one platform)
• 30–49: high usage (commonly ~75–85%)
• 50–64: moderate usage (commonly ~60–75%)
• 65+: lowest usage, but substantial minority participation (commonly ~40–60%, varying by year/platform)

In rural counties like Massac, this age pattern typically pairs with:

• Higher Facebook usage among older adults compared with TikTok/Snapchat.
• Higher TikTok/Instagram usage among younger adults.

Gender breakdown

Pew reports platform-level gender differences rather than a single “social media overall” gender split (Pew Research Center). Commonly observed patterns in recent Pew updates include:

• Women more likely than men to use Pinterest and often Facebook/Instagram (gap varies by year).
• Men more likely than women to use platforms like Reddit (and sometimes YouTube usage is closer to even).
• For many mainstream platforms, gender differences are modest relative to age differences.

Most-used platforms (U.S. adult benchmarks; county-specific percentages not reliably published)

Pew’s U.S. adult platform usage estimates (Pew social media fact sheet) provide the most reliable baseline:

• YouTube: ~83%
• Facebook: ~68%
• Instagram: ~47%
• Pinterest: ~35%
• TikTok: ~33%
• LinkedIn: ~30%
• WhatsApp: ~29%
• Snapchat: ~27%
• X (Twitter): ~22%
• Reddit: ~22%

For Massac County specifically, the most reasonable interpretation—given rural Midwestern usage patterns reflected in national subgroup tables—is:

• Facebook and YouTube are typically the broadest-reach platforms across age groups.
• Instagram/TikTok/Snapchat skew younger.
• LinkedIn skews toward college-educated and professional audiences, often smaller in rural counties.

Behavioral trends (engagement patterns and preferences)

• Age-driven platform mix: Older adults tend to concentrate activity on Facebook and YouTube, while younger adults distribute time across Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube (Pew platform demographics: Pew Research Center).
• Video as a dominant format: YouTube’s very high reach (Pew) indicates video is a primary content mode; TikTok further reinforces short-form video consumption among younger users.
• Local information use: In small-county contexts, Facebook is commonly used for community updates (events, school and sports announcements, local business posts, community groups), reflecting the platform’s strength in local networks.
• Engagement concentration: A smaller share of users typically accounts for a disproportionate share of posting/commenting, while many users primarily read/watch content; this is consistent with general social media participation distributions reported across platforms in survey research.
• Mobile-first usage: Social access is strongly tied to smartphones; Pew’s internet research regularly shows mobile connectivity as central to online activity (Pew internet and broadband fact sheet), which shapes short-session scrolling, notifications-driven engagement, and video viewing on mobile networks.

Massac County family and associate-related public records include vital records and court filings. Birth and death records are maintained at the county level by the Massac County Clerk (records are created locally but governed by Illinois vital records standards). Adoption records are generally handled through the court system and, in Illinois, are typically sealed except under limited statutory access; related case files are filed in the Massac County Circuit Clerk office.

Public-facing online databases in Illinois commonly include court docket access (varies by county) and recorded property documents. Massac County access points include the Circuit Clerk for court case information and the Massac County Recorder for recorded documents (often used to research family/associate ties through deeds, liens, and similar instruments). County offices also provide in-person lookup and certified copy services during business hours.

Privacy restrictions apply to many vital and family-related records. Illinois birth records are generally restricted; death records may have broader access depending on record age and requestor eligibility. Adoption and many juvenile matters are sealed. Fees, identification requirements, and certified-copy rules are set by the maintaining office.

Types of records available

Marriage records

• Marriage licenses and marriage certificates/returns: Issued by the county clerk and typically accompanied by a completed “return” portion signed by the officiant after the ceremony, creating the county’s recorded proof of marriage.
• Marriage applications: Underlying paperwork used to issue the license; maintained as part of the clerk’s files.

Divorce and related court records

• Divorce (dissolution of marriage) case files: Court records that may include pleadings, orders, and the final judgment.
• Divorce decrees / Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage: The final court order ending the marriage and stating terms (such as property division and parenting provisions).
• Annulments: In Illinois, marriages may be declared invalid by court order (often referred to as a judgment declaring a marriage invalid). These are maintained as circuit court case records.

Where records are filed and how they can be accessed

Massac County marriage records (local filing)

• Filed/maintained by: Massac County Clerk (marriage license issuance and recorded marriage returns).
• Access methods: Requests are handled through the county clerk’s office for certified copies/extracts and related verification, subject to office procedures and identification requirements.

Massac County divorce and annulment records (local filing)

• Filed/maintained by: Massac County Circuit Court Clerk (case docket, filings, orders, and final judgments for dissolution and invalidity/annulment-type actions).
• Access methods: Court files are accessed through the circuit clerk’s office. Public access commonly includes the register of actions/docket and nonsealed documents, with certified copies issued by the clerk as permitted.

State-level indexes and verifications

• Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Division of Vital Records maintains statewide marriage and divorce verification for eligible years (generally index-based verification rather than full local records). Certified copies of many local marriage records are typically obtained from the county clerk; certified copies of court judgments are typically obtained from the circuit clerk.

Typical information included in these records

Marriage licenses/certificates (county clerk records)

Common data elements include:

• Full names of the parties (including prior/maiden names where recorded)
• Date and place of marriage (or license issuance date and marriage date)
• Ages or dates of birth (varies by era/form)
• Residences/addresses at time of application (often)
• Officiant name/title and date of ceremony (on the return/certificate)
• Witness information (when required/recorded)
• License number/book-page reference or other clerk recording identifiers

Divorce decrees and dissolution case files (circuit court records)

Common components include:

• Case caption, case number, and filing date
• Names of parties and attorneys (where applicable)
• Orders entered during the case (temporary orders, parenting time, support, protection-related orders where applicable)
• Final judgment/decree details, which may address:
  • Legal dissolution date (date of judgment)
  • Allocation of parental responsibilities/parenting time (when children are involved)
  • Child support and maintenance (spousal support) terms
  • Division of marital property and debts
  • Name restoration provisions (where ordered)

Annulment / invalidity judgments (circuit court records)

Common elements include:

• Case caption and case number
• Findings regarding legal invalidity grounds and jurisdictional facts (as reflected in the judgment)
• Final judgment declaring the marriage invalid and related orders (property/children issues as applicable)

Privacy or legal restrictions

Marriage records

• Marriage license/certificate records are generally treated as public records at the county level, but access to certified copies is governed by clerk procedures and state law. Some identifying details (such as Social Security numbers) are not released in public copies.
• Recent records may be subject to stricter identity/documentation requirements for certified copies, and offices may limit the information provided in informal requests.

Divorce and annulment records

• Illinois circuit court records are generally public, but specific documents or information may be restricted by law or court order.
• Common limitations include:
  • Sealed case files or sealed documents (accessible only by court order or authorized parties)
  • Protected personal identifiers (e.g., Social Security numbers) subject to redaction rules
  • Certain family-law-related evaluations, reports, or sensitive exhibits that may be restricted
• Certified copies of judgments are issued by the circuit clerk in accordance with court record access rules and any sealing/redaction requirements.

Practical access constraints

• Older records may be archived offsite or in microfilm/digital formats, which can affect turnaround time and the format of copies.
• Record searches may be limited by the information provided (names, approximate dates, and event type) and by the county’s available indexes for the relevant time period.

Massac County is a rural county in far southern Illinois along the Ohio River, bordering Kentucky, with its county seat and largest community in Metropolis. The county’s population is small and dispersed outside the Metropolis area, with a community context shaped by regional healthcare, public education, small-to-mid-sized employers, and cross‑border commuting in the Paducah–Metropolis micropolitan area.

Education Indicators

Public schools (count and names)

Massac County public K–12 education is primarily provided by Massac Unit School District No. 1 (Metropolis area) and Joppa–Maple Grove Unit School District No. 38 (Joppa area). Commonly listed schools serving the county include:

• Massac Unit School District No. 1:
  • Metropolis Elementary School
  • Franklin Elementary School
  • J.C. Denning Elementary School
  • Massac Junior High School
  • Massac County High School
• Joppa–Maple Grove Unit School District No. 38:
  • Joppa Grade School
  • Joppa High School

School rosters can change; the most authoritative directory is the Illinois Report Card district and school listings for Massac County and its districts (Illinois Report Card).

Student–teacher ratios and graduation rates

• Student–teacher ratio: Publicly reported student–teacher ratios vary by school and year and are best taken from the district/school pages on the Illinois Report Card and/or federal school profiles. A countywide single ratio is not consistently published as a standard metric; district- and building-level ratios are the most reliable proxy (Illinois Report Card staffing and enrollment).
• Graduation rate: The 4‑year high school graduation rate is published annually at the school and district level in the Illinois Report Card (including Massac County High School and Joppa High School where applicable). This is the primary source for the most recent official graduation-rate figures (Illinois Report Card graduation rates).

Adult education levels

Adult educational attainment is most consistently available from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) for the county:

• High school diploma or higher (age 25+): County-level ACS estimates typically show a strong majority with at least a high school credential, reflecting a largely high‑school‑educated rural workforce.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher (age 25+): ACS estimates for the county are generally below statewide averages, consistent with rural southern Illinois patterns and the area’s industry mix.

The most recent ACS county tables for educational attainment are available via the Census Bureau’s county profile tools (U.S. Census Bureau data tables (ACS)).

Notable programs (STEM, vocational training, AP)

• Advanced Placement (AP) / dual credit: High-school course offerings such as AP participation, dual credit, and career/technical education indicators are reported in the Illinois Report Card at the high school level (Illinois Report Card coursework and readiness).
• Career and Technical Education (CTE): Southern Illinois districts commonly offer CTE pathways aligned with regional employment (skilled trades, health-related programs, and applied technical coursework). District-specific CTE participation and program indicators are documented through state reporting rather than a single countywide program list.

School safety measures and counseling resources

Illinois public schools report safety and climate-related indicators through state and federal reporting channels, including:

• Safety planning and drills (standardized requirements in Illinois for emergency operations planning and safety drills).
• Student support staffing (counselors, social workers, psychologists) is typically summarized in staffing sections of state report-card reporting and district disclosures. Building-level counseling availability varies; the Illinois Report Card provides staffing context by district/school where available (Illinois Report Card student support staffing).

Employment and Economic Conditions

Unemployment rate (most recent year available)

The official unemployment rate for Massac County is tracked by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS series) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security. The most recent annual and monthly estimates are available through BLS local area unemployment statistics (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics).
A single current rate is not embedded here because the “most recent year” varies depending on the latest BLS annual release versus monthly updates; BLS LAUS is the definitive source.

Major industries and employment sectors

Massac County’s employment base reflects a rural county tied to a micropolitan labor market:

• Health care and social assistance (regional hospitals/clinics and long-term care)
• Retail trade and accommodation/food services (local-serving and highway/river traffic)
• Manufacturing (varies over time; typically smaller facilities than metro regions)
• Public administration and education services
• Transportation/warehousing and construction (regional logistics and building trades)

County sector distribution is available in ACS “industry” tables and in regional labor market profiles (ACS industry tables).

Common occupations and workforce breakdown

Common occupational groupings in Massac County generally align with:

• Service occupations (food service, protective services, personal care)
• Office and administrative support
• Sales
• Production and transportation/material moving
• Construction and extraction
• Healthcare practitioners/support (in smaller shares than large metro areas but significant locally)

The most consistent countywide occupation breakdown is published in ACS occupation tables (ACS occupation tables).

Commuting patterns and mean commute time

• Commuting pattern: The county is part of a cross‑border commuting region with notable travel to the Paducah, Kentucky area and other nearby employment centers in southern Illinois and western Kentucky.
• Mean travel time to work: The ACS provides the county’s mean commute time and related commuting characteristics (drive-alone share, carpooling, work-from-home share). This is the standard source for the most recent county mean commute time (ACS commuting characteristics).

Local employment versus out-of-county work

ACS “place of work” and commuting-flow products capture the extent of:

• Residents working within Massac County (local-serving jobs, public sector, healthcare, retail)
• Out-of-county commuting, including cross‑state commuting into Kentucky, reflecting the shared labor market around Paducah–Metropolis

The clearest public datasets for this split are ACS commuting tables and Census commuting-flow resources (ACS place-of-work and commuting).

Housing and Real Estate

Homeownership rate and rental share

Homeownership and renter occupancy are published by the ACS for Massac County. The county typically exhibits higher homeownership than large metropolitan counties, consistent with rural single-family housing predominance. The most recent owner/renter percentages are available in ACS housing occupancy tables (ACS housing tenure).

Median property values and recent trends

• Median home value: Reported by ACS (median value of owner-occupied housing units).
• Recent trends: County-level value changes can be inferred by comparing recent ACS 1‑year/5‑year estimates, but small-county sampling can introduce volatility; ACS 5‑year estimates are the most stable proxy for trend interpretation.

Median value and related housing value distributions are available through ACS housing value tables (ACS median home value).

Typical rent prices

• Median gross rent: Reported by ACS as “median gross rent” for renter-occupied units, with distribution bands also available. This is the standard countywide measure for typical rents (ACS median gross rent).

Types of housing

Massac County’s housing stock is characterized by:

• Single-family detached homes in Metropolis neighborhoods and in rural areas
• Manufactured housing (a common rural housing type in southern Illinois)
• Small multifamily properties and apartments, concentrated in/near Metropolis
• Rural lots and farm-adjacent residences outside town limits

ACS “units in structure” tables provide the county distribution across single-family, multifamily, and manufactured housing (ACS units in structure).

Neighborhood characteristics (proximity to schools or amenities)

• Metropolis concentrates schools, city services, retail corridors, and healthcare access, and tends to have the highest neighborhood walkability and shortest trips to public amenities within the county.
• Outlying areas (including Joppa and rural townships) generally feature larger lots, lower housing density, and longer drive times to schools, grocery retail, and medical services.

No single official county dataset standardizes “neighborhood characteristics” in the way large-city planning departments do; proximity patterns are best described using the county’s settlement structure and town-centered service geography.

Property tax overview (average rate and typical homeowner cost)

Illinois property taxes are administered locally and vary by taxing district; county-level “average rate” can differ significantly by location (municipal limits, school district, and overlapping jurisdictions). The most consistent public proxies are:

• Effective property tax rate and median property taxes paid: available from ACS (“real estate taxes paid” for owner-occupied units) and countywide summaries.
• Typical homeowner cost: often summarized as median annual property taxes for owner-occupied homes (ACS), reflecting both assessed values and local levy structures.

County-level property tax measures are available in ACS housing cost tables (ACS property taxes and housing costs) and local assessment/treasurer resources for levy-specific detail.