The Town FilesCobden, Illinois
Village in Union County · population 1,074 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $98,300
- Household income
- $46,458
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 46.8
Cobden is a village of 1,074 people in Union County, Illinois. The median home is worth $98,300, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks quieter than 98% of Illinois towns, easier by car than 87% of Illinois towns, better for retirees than 85% of Illinois towns.
How Cobden 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 Cobden is worth $98,300, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $46,458, which is more affordable than 55% of Illinois towns. 69.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cobden | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $98,300 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | — | $960 |
| Median household income | $46,458 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 69.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Cobden
| People | Cobden | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.8 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.2% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 28.8% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 11.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 16.3% | — |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 24.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 61.6% | 90.4% |
Weather in Cobden
July highs average 89.7°F and January lows 25.4°F. About 51.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.4 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 43 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 95 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cobden since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 21, 1957 about 3.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 20, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 30, 2023.
Severe weather in Union County since 1996
Union County has been included in 15 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 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| June 7, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1991: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 2, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1850: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Union County
Union County had 5,377 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,223 a year. Unemployment was 5.4% in 2023; in Cobden itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Cobden
3 public schools with 447 students, about 10.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cobden Elem School | PK-5 | 219 | 10.0 |
| Cobden High School | 9-12 | 139 | 10.7 |
| Cobden Jr High School | 6-8 | 89 | 12.7 |
Towns near Cobden
- Anna, IL5.1 mi · 4,303 people · home $134,300
- Jonesboro, IL5.7 mi · 1,711 people · home $106,400
- Makanda, IL6.1 mi · 547 people · home $242,600
- Dongola, IL13.1 mi · 661 people · home $59,900
- Carbondale, IL13.2 mi · 21,857 people · home $127,900
- Goreville, IL15.5 mi · 1,068 people · home $131,300
- Murphysboro, IL16.7 mi · 7,093 people · home $85,900
- Carterville, IL18.4 mi · 5,848 people · home $197,100
Cobden questions
Is Cobden, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cobden scores better for retirees than 85% of Illinois towns and quieter than 98%. 23.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.8).
How much does a house cost in Cobden?
The median owner-occupied home in Cobden is valued at $98,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,458, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Cobden?
July highs average 89.7°F and January lows 25.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.1 inches of precipitation a year and 10.4 inches of snow.
Does Cobden get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cobden since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 21, 1957. 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)