The Town FilesChrisman, Illinois
City in Edgar County · population 1,312 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $79,400
- Household income
- $58,462
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 20 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 39.8
Chrisman is a city of 1,312 people in Edgar County, Illinois. The median home is worth $79,400, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of Illinois towns, easier by car than 83% of Illinois towns, quieter than 73% of Illinois towns.
How Chrisman 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 Chrisman is worth $79,400, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.4 times the median household income of $58,462, which is more affordable than 93% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $727 a month. 55.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chrisman | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $79,400 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $727 | $960 |
| Median household income | $58,462 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 55.4% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Chrisman
| People | Chrisman | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.8 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.4% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 10.1% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 20.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.7% | 90.4% |
Weather in Chrisman
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 16.6°F. About 42.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 19.5 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 117 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chrisman since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 22, 1963 about 7.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 10, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 18, 2000.
Severe weather in Edgar County since 1996
Edgar County has been included in 9 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 |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| June 24, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1771: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Edgar County
Edgar County had 7,065 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,835 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Chrisman itself the ACS puts it at 7.1%.
Public schools in Chrisman
3 public schools with 278 students, about 9.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chrisman Elem School | PK-5 | 122 | 10.2 |
| Chrisman High School | 9-12 | 86 | 8.6 |
| Chrisman-Scottland Jr High School | 6-8 | 70 | 11.7 |
Towns near Chrisman
- Ridge Farm, IL6.4 mi · 787 people · home $73,200
- Dana, IN9.6 mi · 555 people · home $55,500
- St. Bernice, IN10.5 mi · 595 people · home $92,700
- Georgetown, IL12.1 mi · 3,143 people · home $71,800
- Paris, IL13.1 mi · 8,291 people · home $75,700
- Cayuga, IN14.9 mi · 952 people · home $79,800
- Fairview Park, IN16.2 mi · 1,409 people · home $104,800
- Montezuma, IN16.2 mi · 921 people · home $80,400
Chrisman questions
Is Chrisman, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chrisman scores better for retirees than 99% of Illinois towns and quieter than 73%. 26.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.8).
How much does a house cost in Chrisman?
The median owner-occupied home in Chrisman is valued at $79,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,462, so homes cost about 1.4 times income. Median rent is $727 a month.
What is the weather like in Chrisman?
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 16.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.7 inches of precipitation a year and 19.5 inches of snow.
Does Chrisman get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chrisman since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 22, 1963. 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)