The Town FilesChenoa, Illinois
City in McLean County · population 1,720 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $124,700
- Household income
- $65,769
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 20 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 39.4
Chenoa is a city of 1,720 people in McLean County, Illinois. The median home is worth $124,700, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 95% of Illinois towns, more of a college town than 86% of Illinois towns, better for young professionals than 85% of Illinois towns.
How Chenoa 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 Chenoa is worth $124,700, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $65,769, which is more affordable than 68% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $876 a month. 82.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chenoa | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $124,700 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $876 | $960 |
| Median household income | $65,769 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 82.7% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Chenoa
| People | Chenoa | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.4 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.7% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.3% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 8.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 10.4% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 25.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.3% | 90.4% |
Weather in Chenoa
July highs average 83.9°F and January lows 15.2°F. About 36.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 19.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 23 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 127 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chenoa since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 23, 2004 about 0.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 30, 2005.
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 Chenoa itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in Chenoa
1 public school with 252 students, about 14.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prairie Central Primary West | PK-1 | 252 | 14.0 |
Towns near Chenoa
- Lexington, IL6.9 mi · 2,090 people · home $172,500
- Gridley, IL8.0 mi · 1,456 people · home $141,300
- Fairbury, IL11.1 mi · 3,633 people · home $162,200
- Pontiac, IL11.4 mi · 11,150 people · home $116,300
- Flanagan, IL11.8 mi · 1,010 people · home $108,900
- Colfax, IL13.2 mi · 996 people · home $136,300
- El Paso, IL15.2 mi · 2,756 people · home $159,400
- Hudson, IL16.5 mi · 1,753 people · home $224,700
Chenoa questions
Is Chenoa, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chenoa scores better for retirees than 75% of Illinois towns and quieter than 52%. 18.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.4).
How much does a house cost in Chenoa?
The median owner-occupied home in Chenoa is valued at $124,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,769, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $876 a month.
What is the weather like in Chenoa?
July highs average 83.9°F and January lows 15.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.3 inches of precipitation a year and 19.9 inches of snow.
Does Chenoa get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chenoa since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 23, 2004. 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)