The Town FilesAlbany, Illinois
Village in Whiteside County · population 864 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $148,800
- Household income
- $62,857
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 37.8
Albany is a village of 864 people in Whiteside County, Illinois. The median home is worth $148,800, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks easier by car than 92% of Illinois towns.
How Albany ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Albany is worth $148,800, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $62,857, which is more affordable than 42% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $724 a month. 89.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Albany | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $148,800 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $724 | $960 |
| Median household income | $62,857 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 89.1% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Albany
| People | Albany | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.8 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.3% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 30.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 10.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 3.6% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 23.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.9% | 90.4% |
Weather in Albany
July highs average 83.9°F and January lows 14.3°F. About 36.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 129 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Albany since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 13, 1990 about 1.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 25 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 20, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 45 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 22, 1970.
Severe weather in Whiteside County since 1996
Whiteside County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Whiteside County
Whiteside County had 21,197 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,164 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Albany itself the ACS puts it at 6.5%.
Towns near Albany
- Camanche, IA3.1 mi · 4,570 people · home $172,400
- Clinton, IA4.1 mi · 24,469 people · home $118,200
- Fulton, IL6.2 mi · 3,647 people · home $121,700
- Cordova, IL9.3 mi · 671 people · home $181,300
- Princeton, IA10.9 mi · 923 people · home $266,200
- Erie, IL11.2 mi · 1,518 people · home $151,900
- Port Byron, IL12.6 mi · 1,668 people · home $278,200
- Morrison, IL13.2 mi · 4,085 people · home $118,000
Albany questions
Is Albany, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Albany scores better for retirees than 31% of Illinois towns and quieter than 61%. 18.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.8).
How much does a house cost in Albany?
The median owner-occupied home in Albany is valued at $148,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,857, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $724 a month.
What is the weather like in Albany?
July highs average 83.9°F and January lows 14.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.5 inches of precipitation a year and 31.9 inches of snow.
Does Albany get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Albany since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 13, 1990. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)