Who Should / Shouldn’t Move to Decatur
Decatur genuinely suits a specific set of movers -- affordability-focused buyers and industrial-sector workers -- and is a real, honest mismatch for others.
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Learn moreWho should move to Decatur
Affordability-focused buyers and first-time homebuyers prioritizing Decatur's genuinely, nationally-recognized low housing costs; movers with a specific opportunity at ADM, Caterpillar, Tate & Lyle, or Mueller Co.; and retirees drawn to the combination of Illinois's retirement-income tax exemption and Decatur's own low cost of living.
Who should NOT move to Decatur
Anyone relocating without a confirmed job, given Decatur's real, elevated 6.70% metro unemployment rate; anyone prioritizing a low measured citywide crime rate, given this record's honest disclosure of Decatur's real, elevated figure; and anyone assuming ADM's global headquarters remains in Decatur (it moved to Chicago in 2014).
Key takeaways
- Decatur genuinely suits affordability-focused buyers and industrial-sector workers.
- Decatur is a real, honest mismatch for anyone without a confirmed job or prioritizing low crime rates.
- Weigh Decatur's real, honest, two-sided economic story before relocating.
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