The Town FilesBridgeport, Illinois
City in Lawrence County · population 1,800 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $72,100
- Household income
- $53,036
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 16 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 30.5
Bridgeport is a city of 1,800 people in Lawrence County, Illinois. The median home is worth $72,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks hipper than 83% of Illinois towns.
How Bridgeport 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 Bridgeport is worth $72,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.4 times the median household income of $53,036, which is more affordable than 93% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $675 a month. 71.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bridgeport | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $72,100 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $675 | $960 |
| Median household income | $53,036 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 71.9% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Bridgeport
| People | Bridgeport | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.5 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.6% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 34.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.7% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 12.6% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 21.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.5% | 90.4% |
Weather in Bridgeport
July highs average 88.3°F and January lows 21.3°F. About 46.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 15.5 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 40 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 98 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bridgeport since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on January 7, 1989 about 9.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 24, 2006.
Severe weather in Lawrence County since 1996
Lawrence County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| June 7, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1991: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| June 24, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1771: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lawrence County
Lawrence County had 4,016 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,158 a year. Unemployment was 5.3% in 2023; in Bridgeport itself the ACS puts it at 8.4%.
Public schools in Bridgeport
2 public schools with 696 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hill Jr/Sr High School | 7-12 | 395 | 13.2 |
| Bridgeport Grade School | PK-3 | 301 | 13.1 |
Towns near Bridgeport
- Lawrenceville, IL4.0 mi · 4,164 people · home $71,300
- Sumner, IL5.8 mi · 2,631 people · home $46,000
- St. Francisville, IL10.1 mi · 568 people · home $63,900
- Vincennes, IN13.6 mi · 16,759 people · home $111,600
- Olney, IL17.6 mi · 8,701 people · home $99,800
- West Salem, IL18.8 mi · 786 people · home $74,600
- Mount Carmel, IL20.1 mi · 7,015 people · home $89,300
- Oaktown, IN20.4 mi · 581 people · home $65,200
Bridgeport questions
Is Bridgeport, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bridgeport scores better for retirees than 68% of Illinois towns and quieter than 46%. 14.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.5).
How much does a house cost in Bridgeport?
The median owner-occupied home in Bridgeport is valued at $72,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,036, so homes cost about 1.4 times income. Median rent is $675 a month.
What is the weather like in Bridgeport?
July highs average 88.3°F and January lows 21.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.6 inches of precipitation a year and 15.5 inches of snow.
Does Bridgeport get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bridgeport since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on January 7, 1989. 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)