The Town FilesCentral City, Illinois
Village in Marion County · population 1,098 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $47,600
- Household income
- $44,896
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 38.2
Central City is a village of 1,098 people in Marion County, Illinois. The median home is worth $47,600, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 92% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 76% of Illinois towns, more vibrant than 71% of Illinois towns.
How Central City 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 Central City is worth $47,600, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.1 times the median household income of $44,896, which is more affordable than 98% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $840 a month. 71.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Central City | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $47,600 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $840 | $960 |
| Median household income | $44,896 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 71.0% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Central City
| People | Central City | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.2 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.6% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 5.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 29.1% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 0.6% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 16.4 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.1% | 90.4% |
Weather in Central City
July highs average 87.5°F and January lows 20.9°F. About 44.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.5 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 33 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 109 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Central City since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on November 17, 2013 about 9.0 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 10 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 15, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 3, 1996.
Severe weather in Marion County since 1996
Marion County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| June 7, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1991: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Marion County
Marion County had 12,409 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,266 a year. Unemployment was 4.9% in 2023; in Central City itself the ACS puts it at 7.2%.
Towns near Central City
- Centralia, IL1.8 mi · 12,182 people · home $89,600
- Junction City, IL1.9 mi · 527 people · home $83,500
- Wamac, IL4.1 mi · 985 people · home $20,100
- Sandoval, IL4.4 mi · 1,157 people · home $59,100
- Odin, IL6.1 mi · 935 people · home $102,600
- Irvington, IL7.8 mi · 581 people · home $91,700
- Hoyleton, IL10.5 mi · 520 people · home $100,000
- Salem, IL10.6 mi · 7,282 people · home $106,100
Central City questions
Is Central City, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Central City scores better for retirees than 12% of Illinois towns and quieter than 21%. 13.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.2).
How much does a house cost in Central City?
The median owner-occupied home in Central City is valued at $47,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,896, so homes cost about 1.1 times income. Median rent is $840 a month.
What is the weather like in Central City?
July highs average 87.5°F and January lows 20.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.7 inches of precipitation a year and 6.5 inches of snow.
Does Central City get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Central City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on November 17, 2013. 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)