Macoupin County
IL · Pop. 44,566 · Suburban County
Macoupin County sits in Illinois across 863 square miles, home to 44,566 people at 51.6 per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on soybeans, corn, wheat. A median home price of $126,000 and an effective property tax rate of 1.58% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 180-day growing season, average summer highs of 84.9°F and average winter lows of 21.2°F. Annual rainfall averages 39.1 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Carlinville Area Hospital Association is 3.3 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 95.6% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is very high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A median home price of $126,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- Broadband reaches 95.6% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Carlinville Area Hospital Association, with an emergency room, is just 3.3 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A strong agricultural economy built on soybeans, corn, wheat means local markets, equipment, and know-how are in place.
Cons
- Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
- An effective property tax rate of 1.58% is on the higher side and adds to annual carrying costs.
At a glance
Macoupin County, IL is a solid homesteading option with some tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 64/100
- Median home price
- $126k
- Property tax
- 1.58%
- Growing season
- 180 days (zone 6b)
- Annual rainfall
- 39.1"
- Broadband
- 95.6%
- Nearest hospital
- Carlinville Area Hospital Association, 3.3 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Macoupin County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Macoupin County?
- Macoupin County is in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 180-day growing season, average summer highs of 84.9°F, and average winter lows of 21.2°F. The established crops are soybeans, corn, wheat.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $126,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.58%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 95.6% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Carlinville Area Hospital Association is 3.3 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 2 hospitals in the county.
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More counties in Illinois
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Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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