The Town FilesAltamont, Illinois
City in Effingham County · population 2,216 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $129,800
- Household income
- $75,510
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 15 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 38.9
Altamont is a city of 2,216 people in Effingham County, Illinois. The median home is worth $129,800, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks quieter than 89% of Illinois towns, better for retirees than 81% of Illinois towns.
How Altamont 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 Altamont is worth $129,800, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $75,510, which is more affordable than 79% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $791 a month. 77.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Altamont | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $129,800 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $791 | $960 |
| Median household income | $75,510 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 77.8% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Altamont
| People | Altamont | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.9 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.7% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.1% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 10.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 6.3% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 22.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.0% | 90.4% |
Weather in Altamont
July highs average 88.5°F and January lows 20.1°F. About 44.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.6 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 38 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 114 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Altamont since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on June 17, 2026 about 8.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 4 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on September 30, 1977.
Severe weather in Effingham County since 1996
Effingham County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| December 13, 2021 | Tornado | EM-3577: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Effingham County
Effingham County had 23,242 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,064 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Altamont itself the ACS puts it at 0.3%.
Public schools in Altamont
2 public schools with 689 students, about 11.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altamont Grade School | PK-8 | 470 | 12.7 |
| Altamont High School | 9-12 | 219 | 10.4 |
Towns near Altamont
- St. Elmo, IL6.1 mi · 1,254 people · home $82,600
- Watson, IL9.8 mi · 668 people · home $100,000
- Effingham, IL11.4 mi · 12,252 people · home $177,500
- Brownstown, IL12.0 mi · 690 people · home $72,900
- Cowden, IL14.6 mi · 515 people · home $77,000
- Teutopolis, IL15.3 mi · 1,618 people · home $247,700
- Stewardson, IL15.7 mi · 721 people · home $109,500
- Farina, IL15.7 mi · 540 people · home $83,800
Altamont questions
Is Altamont, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Altamont scores better for retirees than 81% of Illinois towns and quieter than 89%. 21.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.9).
How much does a house cost in Altamont?
The median owner-occupied home in Altamont is valued at $129,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $75,510, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $791 a month.
What is the weather like in Altamont?
July highs average 88.5°F and January lows 20.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.0 inches of precipitation a year and 14.6 inches of snow.
Does Altamont get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Altamont since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on June 17, 2026. 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)