The Town FilesBarry, Illinois
City in Pike County · population 1,303 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $92,700
- Household income
- $76,042
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 16 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 36.0
Barry is a city of 1,303 people in Pike County, Illinois. The median home is worth $92,700, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks quieter than 71% of Illinois towns.
How Barry 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 Barry is worth $92,700, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.2 times the median household income of $76,042, which is more affordable than 98% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $644 a month. 74.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Barry | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $92,700 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $644 | $960 |
| Median household income | $76,042 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 74.4% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Barry
| People | Barry | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.0 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.1% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 28.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.3% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 5.5% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 24.3 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.0% | 90.4% |
Weather in Barry
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 20.6°F. About 38.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 16.4 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 37 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 105 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Barry since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 24, 1961 about 0.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 23, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on April 13, 1981.
Severe weather in Pike County since 1996
Pike County has been included in 25 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 |
| 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 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Pike County
Pike County had 3,881 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,124 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Barry itself the ACS puts it at 5.8%.
Public schools in Barry
2 public schools with 384 students, about 11.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Barry Elem | K-5 | 249 | 11.9 |
| Western High School | 9-12 | 135 | 10.4 |
Towns near Barry
- Liberty, IL13.0 mi · 543 people · home $137,500
- Payson, IL13.6 mi · 1,025 people · home $132,000
- Pittsfield, IL14.0 mi · 4,206 people · home $111,400
- Griggsville, IL16.6 mi · 1,097 people · home $86,200
- Louisiana, MO17.8 mi · 3,199 people · home $72,100
- Hannibal, MO18.8 mi · 17,108 people · home $127,700
- Pleasant Hill, IL19.7 mi · 924 people · home $78,200
- New London, MO20.7 mi · 943 people · home $134,100
Barry questions
Is Barry, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Barry scores better for retirees than 53% of Illinois towns and quieter than 71%. 17.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.0).
How much does a house cost in Barry?
The median owner-occupied home in Barry is valued at $92,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,042, so homes cost about 1.2 times income. Median rent is $644 a month.
What is the weather like in Barry?
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 20.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.5 inches of precipitation a year and 16.4 inches of snow.
Does Barry get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Barry since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 24, 1961. 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)