The Town FilesCatlin, Illinois
Village in Vermilion County · population 1,983 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $124,700
- Household income
- $72,277
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 15 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 40.0
Catlin is a village of 1,983 people in Vermilion County, Illinois. The median home is worth $124,700, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks easier by car than 93% of Illinois towns, better for retirees than 88% of Illinois towns, more of a college town than 87% of Illinois towns.
How Catlin 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 Catlin is worth $124,700, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $72,277, which is more affordable than 79% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $931 a month. 78.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Catlin | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $124,700 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $931 | $960 |
| Median household income | $72,277 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 78.8% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Catlin
| People | Catlin | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.0 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.1% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.9% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 9.1% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 25.0 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.2% | 90.4% |
Weather in Catlin
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 19.5°F. About 43.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.8 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 112 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Catlin since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 20, 1976 about 8.0 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 51 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 16, 2019.
Severe weather in Vermilion County since 1996
Vermilion County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| November 26, 2013 | Tornado | DR-4157: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Vermilion County
Vermilion County had 25,748 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,579 a year. Unemployment was 5.8% in 2023; in Catlin itself the ACS puts it at 1.2%.
Public schools in Catlin
2 public schools with 515 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Fork North Elementary School | PK-5 | 281 | 14.1 |
| Salt Fork High School | 9-12 | 234 | 14.6 |
Towns near Catlin
- Tilton, IL4.0 mi · 2,660 people · home $70,400
- Westville, IL4.0 mi · 3,167 people · home $100,000
- Oakwood, IL4.6 mi · 1,325 people · home $103,000
- Fairmount, IL6.6 mi · 612 people · home $87,600
- Danville, IL7.3 mi · 29,204 people · home $79,000
- Georgetown, IL7.4 mi · 3,143 people · home $71,800
- Ridge Farm, IL12.3 mi · 787 people · home $73,200
- Homer, IL13.4 mi · 1,073 people · home $146,200
Catlin questions
Is Catlin, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Catlin scores better for retirees than 88% of Illinois towns and quieter than 65%. 21.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.0).
How much does a house cost in Catlin?
The median owner-occupied home in Catlin is valued at $124,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,277, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $931 a month.
What is the weather like in Catlin?
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 19.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.2 inches of precipitation a year and 14.8 inches of snow.
Does Catlin get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Catlin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 20, 1976. 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)