The Town FilesCarlock, Illinois
Village in McLean County · population 548 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $154,600
- Household income
- $85,625
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 22 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 37.6
Carlock is a village of 548 people in McLean County, Illinois. The median home is worth $154,600, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 97% of Illinois towns, better for families than 94% of Illinois towns, quieter than 86% of Illinois towns.
How Carlock 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 Carlock is worth $154,600, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $85,625, which is more affordable than 74% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,348 a month. 86.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Carlock | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $154,600 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,348 | $960 |
| Median household income | $85,625 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 86.5% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1943 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Carlock
| People | Carlock | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.2% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.9% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 4.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.6% | — |
| Work from home | 11.5% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 26.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.7% | 90.4% |
Weather in Carlock
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 17.1°F. About 37.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 22.3 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carlock since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 30, 1975 about 1.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 11, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on July 13, 2004.
Severe weather in McLean County since 1996
McLean County has been included in 11 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 |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| February 9, 2007 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1681: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in McLean County
McLean County had 88,945 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $66,183 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Carlock itself the ACS puts it at 2.1%.
Public schools in Carlock
1 public school with 115 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlock Elem School | K-5 | 115 | 14.4 |
Towns near Carlock
- Danvers, IL4.4 mi · 1,089 people · home $166,200
- Twin Grove, IL7.3 mi · 1,524 people · home $264,800
- Hudson, IL7.5 mi · 1,753 people · home $224,700
- Goodfield, IL7.5 mi · 936 people · home $246,400
- Normal, IL8.4 mi · 52,736 people · home $213,600
- Heritage Lake, IL10.8 mi · 1,523 people · home $207,300
- Deer Creek, IL11.1 mi · 667 people · home $148,900
- Bloomington, IL11.2 mi · 78,680 people · home $203,300
Carlock questions
Is Carlock, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Carlock scores better for retirees than 64% of Illinois towns and quieter than 86%. 10.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.6).
How much does a house cost in Carlock?
The median owner-occupied home in Carlock is valued at $154,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,625, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $1,348 a month.
What is the weather like in Carlock?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 17.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.5 inches of precipitation a year and 22.3 inches of snow.
Does Carlock get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carlock since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 30, 1975. 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)