The Town FilesAtlanta, Illinois
City in Logan County · population 1,669 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $134,400
- Household income
- $80,972
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 18 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 41
- Median age
- 38.2
Atlanta is a city of 1,669 people in Logan County, Illinois. The median home is worth $134,400, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more of a college town than 97% of Illinois towns.
How Atlanta 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 Atlanta is worth $134,400, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $80,972, which is more affordable than 79% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $894 a month. 84.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Atlanta | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $134,400 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $894 | $960 |
| Median household income | $80,972 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 84.3% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Atlanta
| People | Atlanta | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.2 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.1% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.1% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 18.6% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 25.0 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.1% | 90.4% |
Weather in Atlanta
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 17.8°F. About 39.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 18.2 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 126 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
41 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Atlanta since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 5, 1977 about 0.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 81 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 29, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 9, 2003.
Severe weather in Logan County since 1996
Logan County has been included in 12 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 |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| February 9, 2007 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1681: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Logan County
Logan County had 7,878 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,750 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Atlanta itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in Atlanta
1 public school with 343 students, about 18.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olympia South Elem Sch | PK-5 | 343 | 18.1 |
Towns near Atlanta
- McLean, IL4.8 mi · 743 people · home $140,400
- Lincoln, IL10.7 mi · 13,288 people · home $124,300
- Stanford, IL11.7 mi · 600 people · home $115,300
- Minier, IL12.5 mi · 1,154 people · home $148,400
- Heyworth, IL13.1 mi · 2,791 people · home $210,600
- Wapella, IL14.5 mi · 513 people · home $98,500
- Hopedale, IL15.0 mi · 830 people · home $144,700
- Clinton, IL16.3 mi · 7,004 people · home $102,800
Atlanta questions
Is Atlanta, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Atlanta scores better for retirees than 51% of Illinois towns and quieter than 47%. 19.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.2).
How much does a house cost in Atlanta?
The median owner-occupied home in Atlanta is valued at $134,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,972, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $894 a month.
What is the weather like in Atlanta?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 17.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.8 inches of precipitation a year and 18.2 inches of snow.
Does Atlanta get tornadoes?
41 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Atlanta since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 5, 1977. 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)