The Town FilesCarthage, Illinois
City in Hancock County · population 2,490 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $112,900
- Household income
- $77,004
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 22 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 47.1
Carthage is a city of 2,490 people in Hancock County, Illinois. The median home is worth $112,900, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for retirees than 100% of Illinois towns, hipper than 94% of Illinois towns, better for first-time buyers than 88% of Illinois towns.
How Carthage 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 Carthage is worth $112,900, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $77,004, which is more affordable than 90% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $680 a month. 72.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Carthage | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $112,900 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $680 | $960 |
| Median household income | $77,004 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 72.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Carthage
| People | Carthage | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.1 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.4% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 15.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.7% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 4.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.5% | — |
| Work from home | 1.4% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 20.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.6% | 90.4% |
Weather in Carthage
July highs average 86.3°F and January lows 17.7°F. About 40.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.5 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 31 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 124 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carthage since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 10, 2003 about 4.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on March 15, 2016.
Severe weather in Hancock County since 1996
Hancock County has been included in 19 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 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Hancock County
Hancock County had 4,144 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,832 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Carthage itself the ACS puts it at 0.1%.
Public schools in Carthage
6 public schools with 760 students, about 13.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illini West High School | 9-12 | 334 | 13.9 |
| Carthage Primary School | PK-4 | 250 | 20.8 |
| Carthage Middle School | 5-8 | 176 | 12.6 |
| ROYALS Academy Carthage | 6-12 | — | — |
| WCISEC HS MD | Other | — | — |
| ROYALS RSSP Carthage | 6-12 | — | — |
Towns near Carthage
- Hamilton, IL12.4 mi · 2,753 people · home $114,100
- La Harpe, IL14.4 mi · 1,175 people · home $86,400
- Keokuk, IA14.4 mi · 9,900 people · home $104,300
- Dallas City, IL15.4 mi · 805 people · home $90,000
- Augusta, IL15.8 mi · 553 people · home $83,400
- Nauvoo, IL16.1 mi · 950 people · home $156,700
- Warsaw, IL16.4 mi · 1,510 people · home $96,100
- Blandinsville, IL16.7 mi · 569 people · home $68,800
Carthage questions
Is Carthage, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Carthage scores better for retirees than 100% of Illinois towns and quieter than 78%. 23.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.1).
How much does a house cost in Carthage?
The median owner-occupied home in Carthage is valued at $112,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $77,004, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $680 a month.
What is the weather like in Carthage?
July highs average 86.3°F and January lows 17.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.1 inches of precipitation a year and 21.5 inches of snow.
Does Carthage get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carthage since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 10, 2003. 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)