Macon at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 1,130, placing it 612th among Illinois's 1,294 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 1,173 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down about 3.7% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Illinois places: 612th in population of 1,294 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 53% of Illinois places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 39.7087, -88.9967 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Moweaqua, IL (6 mi); Mount Zion, IL (8 mi); Harristown, IL (10 mi); Long Creek, IL (10 mi); Decatur, IL (11 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Smaller places nearby: Blue Mound, IL (7 mi); Dalton City, IL (10 mi); Stonington, IL (11 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Macon
A personal loan is an installment loan: you receive a lump sum and repay it in fixed monthly payments over a set term, usually two to seven years.
Because the APR includes origination and finance charges, it is the honest comparison number; the personal loan calculator turns an APR and term into a monthly payment.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
Illinois lending rules that apply in Macon
The table carries the Illinois rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Macon.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Financial Institutions Source says: "DFI licenses, charters, and examines a wide variety of financial products and services including: Consumer and Sales Finance and Collection Agencies". | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| Installment lender net-worth requirement | $30,000 minimum positive net worth (plus $25,000 surety bond) Source says: "every applicant shall prove ... that the applicant has and will maintain a positive net worth of a minimum of $30,000". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 9% annual percentage rate (general written-contract interest cap) Source says: "it shall be lawful for the parties to stipulate or agree that an annual percentage rate of 9%, or any less sum". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license; capped at 36% annual percentage rate (payday loans) Source says: "shall not contract for or receive a charge exceeding a 36% annual percentage rate ... for a payday loan". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Installment Loan Act license required from the Director of Financial Institutions (loans above 9% APR) Source says: "No person ... shall engage in the business of making loans of money ... except ... after first obtaining a license from the Director of Financial Institutions". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Macon
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Macon:
- Pull your free credit reports and dispute any error — it is the cheapest way to improve the rate you are offered.
- Run your figures through the personal loan calculator on this site so you know the payment before a lender quotes one.
- Pre-qualify with at least three lenders and compare the APR, not the interest rate.
- Check that the lender is licensed in Illinois using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.