The Town FilesColchester, Illinois
City in McDonough County · population 1,108 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $91,700
- Household income
- $63,981
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 41.6
Colchester is a city of 1,108 people in McDonough County, Illinois. The median home is worth $91,700, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks quieter than 90% of Illinois towns, better for first-time buyers than 81% of Illinois towns, hipper than 79% of Illinois towns.
How Colchester 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 Colchester is worth $91,700, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.4 times the median household income of $63,981, which is more affordable than 93% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $808 a month. 74.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Colchester | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $91,700 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $808 | $960 |
| Median household income | $63,981 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 74.4% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.4% | — |
Who lives in Colchester
| People | Colchester | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.6 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.9% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.8% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 9.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.1% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 15.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.2% | 90.4% |
Weather in Colchester
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 14.9°F. About 39.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.5 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Colchester since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 21, 1964 about 3.3 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 69 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 2, 1980.
Severe weather in McDonough County since 1996
McDonough County has been included in 11 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 |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in McDonough County
McDonough County had 10,119 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,433 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Colchester itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in Colchester
4 public schools with 436 students, about 9.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Prairie South Elementary Sch | PK-6 | 178 | 11.9 |
| West Prairie Senior High School | 9-12 | 164 | 11.7 |
| West Prairie Junior High School | 7-8 | 94 | 11.8 |
| WCISEC MD | Other | — | — |
Towns near Colchester
- Macomb, IL6.5 mi · 15,051 people · home $103,300
- Blandinsville, IL9.7 mi · 569 people · home $68,800
- La Harpe, IL14.4 mi · 1,175 people · home $86,400
- Augusta, IL15.8 mi · 553 people · home $83,400
- Bushnell, IL17.4 mi · 2,718 people · home $71,900
- Carthage, IL17.7 mi · 2,490 people · home $112,900
- Vermont, IL21.1 mi · 570 people · home $57,000
- Roseville, IL22.1 mi · 892 people · home $85,700
Colchester questions
Is Colchester, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Colchester scores better for retirees than 71% of Illinois towns and quieter than 90%. 20.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.6).
How much does a house cost in Colchester?
The median owner-occupied home in Colchester is valued at $91,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,981, so homes cost about 1.4 times income. Median rent is $808 a month.
What is the weather like in Colchester?
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 14.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.1 inches of precipitation a year and 10.5 inches of snow.
Does Colchester get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Colchester since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 21, 1964. 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)