The Town FilesCairo, Illinois
City in Alexander County · population 1,733 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $32,000
- Household income
- $41,912
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 43.8
Cairo is a city of 1,733 people in Alexander County, Illinois. The median home is worth $32,000, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks hipper than 85% of Illinois towns, quieter than 78% of Illinois towns.
- #2 in 25 Small Towns in Illinois With the Cheapest Homes
- #2 in 25 Small Towns in Illinois With the Mildest Winters
- #4 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Illinois
- #17 in The 25 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Illinois With Mild Winters
- #28 in 50 Small Towns in America With the Cheapest Homes
- #28 in 50 Places in America With the Cheapest Homes
How Cairo 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 Cairo is worth $32,000, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 0.8 times the median household income of $41,912, which is more affordable than 100% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $515 a month. 65.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cairo | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $32,000 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $515 | $960 |
| Median household income | $41,912 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 0.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 65.1% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1953 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.8% | — |
Who lives in Cairo
| People | Cairo | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.8 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.6% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 8.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 6.2% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 36.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 56.3% | 90.4% |
Weather in Cairo
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 26.0°F. About 51.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.7 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 42 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 81 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cairo since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on February 29, 2012 about 7.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 16, 2025.
Severe weather in Alexander County since 1996
Alexander County has been included in 17 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 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| June 7, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1991: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 2, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1826: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Alexander County
Alexander County had 888 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,443 a year. Unemployment was 6.3% in 2023; in Cairo itself the ACS puts it at 14.6%.
Public schools in Cairo
2 public schools with 294 students, about 10.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cairo Elementary School | PK-6 | 174 | 13.4 |
| Cairo Jr/Sr High School | 7-12 | 120 | 8.6 |
Towns near Cairo
- Mound City, IL5.6 mi · 526 people · home $55,600
- Wickliffe, KY6.2 mi · 670 people · home $68,400
- Mounds, IL7.6 mi · 661 people · home —
- Barlow, KY8.2 mi · 653 people · home $68,100
- Charleston, MO10.4 mi · 5,056 people · home $123,700
- La Center, KY12.4 mi · 872 people · home $92,300
- Bardwell, KY13.2 mi · 714 people · home $74,200
- Olive Branch, IL15.3 mi · 650 people · home $61,500
Cairo questions
Is Cairo, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cairo scores better for retirees than 55% of Illinois towns and quieter than 78%. 22.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.8).
How much does a house cost in Cairo?
The median owner-occupied home in Cairo is valued at $32,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,912, so homes cost about 0.8 times income. Median rent is $515 a month.
What is the weather like in Cairo?
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 26.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.0 inches of precipitation a year and 7.7 inches of snow.
Does Cairo get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cairo since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on February 29, 2012. 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)