The Town FilesAshkum, Illinois
Village in Iroquois County · population 750 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $150,600
- Household income
- $78,365
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 22 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 36.2
Ashkum is a village of 750 people in Iroquois County, Illinois. The median home is worth $150,600, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks quieter than 97% of Illinois towns, easier by car than 94% of Illinois towns, better for retirees than 81% of Illinois towns.
How Ashkum 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 Ashkum is worth $150,600, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $78,365, which is more affordable than 68% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $798 a month. 77.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ashkum | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $150,600 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $798 | $960 |
| Median household income | $78,365 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 77.7% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Ashkum
| People | Ashkum | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.2 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.6% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.2% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 3.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 22.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.0% | 90.4% |
Weather in Ashkum
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 15.5°F. About 38.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ashkum since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 17, 1992 about 0.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 28, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 7, 1980.
Severe weather in Iroquois County since 1996
Iroquois County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| March 7, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1747: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| May 21, 2002 | Tornado | DR-1416: Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Iroquois County
Iroquois County had 7,372 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,100 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Ashkum itself the ACS puts it at 2.3%.
Public schools in Ashkum
1 public school with 53 students, about 26.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashkum Early Literacy Center | PK-PK | 53 | 26.5 |
Towns near Ashkum
- Clifton, IL4.0 mi · 1,352 people · home $205,400
- Danforth, IL4.1 mi · 594 people · home $151,200
- Gilman, IL8.3 mi · 1,738 people · home $120,500
- Chebanse, IL8.7 mi · 1,044 people · home $161,500
- Crescent City, IL8.9 mi · 552 people · home $116,500
- Onarga, IL11.7 mi · 1,333 people · home $99,300
- Watseka, IL13.7 mi · 4,679 people · home $103,700
- Herscher, IL14.1 mi · 1,521 people · home $197,600
Ashkum questions
Is Ashkum, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ashkum scores better for retirees than 81% of Illinois towns and quieter than 97%. 14.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.2).
How much does a house cost in Ashkum?
The median owner-occupied home in Ashkum is valued at $150,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $78,365, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $798 a month.
What is the weather like in Ashkum?
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 15.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.4 inches of precipitation a year and 21.9 inches of snow.
Does Ashkum get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ashkum since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 17, 1992. 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)