The Town FilesArgenta, Illinois
Village in Macon County · population 913 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $106,300
- Household income
- $73,482
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 21 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 46
- Median age
- 42.0
Argenta is a village of 913 people in Macon County, Illinois. The median home is worth $106,300, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks easier by car than 91% of Illinois towns, quieter than 70% of Illinois towns.
How Argenta 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 Argenta is worth $106,300, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.4 times the median household income of $73,482, which is more affordable than 93% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,286 a month. 84.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Argenta | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $106,300 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,286 | $960 |
| Median household income | $73,482 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 84.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Argenta
| People | Argenta | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.0 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.3% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.1% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.2% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 0.5% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 24.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.7% | 90.4% |
Weather in Argenta
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 20.1°F. About 36.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 20.7 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 113 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
46 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Argenta since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 19, 1996 about 9.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 96 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 10, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on June 23, 1960.
Severe weather in Macon County since 1996
Macon County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4728: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| February 9, 2007 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1681: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Macon County
Macon County had 45,051 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $67,788 a year. Unemployment was 6% in 2023; in Argenta itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Public schools in Argenta
2 public schools with 454 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argenta-Oreana High School | 9-12 | 276 | 13.8 |
| Argenta-Oreana Middle School | 6-8 | 178 | 12.7 |
Towns near Argenta
- Oreana, IL4.2 mi · 891 people · home $137,300
- Maroa, IL8.0 mi · 1,577 people · home $126,800
- Cerro Gordo, IL8.0 mi · 1,316 people · home $109,200
- Forsyth, IL8.7 mi · 3,734 people · home $281,000
- Decatur, IL10.8 mi · 70,522 people · home $99,600
- Long Creek, IL12.5 mi · 1,261 people · home $167,500
- Warrensburg, IL13.4 mi · 1,110 people · home $145,400
- Monticello, IL13.4 mi · 5,941 people · home $210,500
Argenta questions
Is Argenta, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Argenta scores better for retirees than 45% of Illinois towns and quieter than 70%. 23.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.0).
How much does a house cost in Argenta?
The median owner-occupied home in Argenta is valued at $106,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,482, so homes cost about 1.4 times income. Median rent is $1,286 a month.
What is the weather like in Argenta?
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 20.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.4 inches of precipitation a year and 20.7 inches of snow.
Does Argenta get tornadoes?
46 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Argenta since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 19, 1996. 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)