The Town FilesAtkinson, Illinois
Town in Henry County · population 965 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $119,600
- Household income
- $57,174
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 45.3
Atkinson is a town of 965 people in Henry County, Illinois. The median home is worth $119,600, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks quieter than 97% of Illinois towns.
How Atkinson 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 Atkinson is worth $119,600, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $57,174, which is more affordable than 55% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $734 a month. 83.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Atkinson | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $119,600 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $734 | $960 |
| Median household income | $57,174 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 83.0% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Atkinson
| People | Atkinson | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.3 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.5% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.7% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 3.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.6% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 23.4 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.7% | 90.4% |
Weather in Atkinson
July highs average 85.7°F and January lows 14.6°F. About 39.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.4 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 126 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Atkinson since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 4, 2023 about 3.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 20, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 15, 2025.
Severe weather in Henry County since 1996
Henry County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 20, 2024 | Flood | DR-4819: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Floodng |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Henry County
Henry County had 13,805 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,950 a year. Unemployment was 4.9% in 2023; in Atkinson itself the ACS puts it at 7.5%.
Public schools in Atkinson
2 public schools with — students.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reg'l Safe School Program ROE #28 | 6-12 | — | — |
| Excel Alternative Program | Other | — | — |
Towns near Atkinson
- Annawan, IL6.1 mi · 884 people · home $135,100
- Geneseo, IL8.2 mi · 6,539 people · home $205,400
- Kewanee, IL12.7 mi · 12,509 people · home $73,200
- Cambridge, IL12.7 mi · 2,086 people · home $123,100
- Sheffield, IL14.3 mi · 821 people · home $102,400
- Andover, IL16.9 mi · 555 people · home $163,600
- Galva, IL17.0 mi · 2,470 people · home $83,700
- Erie, IL17.4 mi · 1,518 people · home $151,900
Atkinson questions
Is Atkinson, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Atkinson scores better for retirees than 35% of Illinois towns and quieter than 97%. 24.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.3).
How much does a house cost in Atkinson?
The median owner-occupied home in Atkinson is valued at $119,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,174, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $734 a month.
What is the weather like in Atkinson?
July highs average 85.7°F and January lows 14.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.1 inches of precipitation a year and 28.4 inches of snow.
Does Atkinson get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Atkinson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 4, 2023. 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)