The Town FilesDahlgren, Illinois
Village in Hamilton County · population 504 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $80,800
- Household income
- $44,861
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 25.1
Dahlgren is a village of 504 people in Hamilton County, Illinois. The median home is worth $80,800, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for families than 92% of Illinois towns, better for first-time buyers than 86% of Illinois towns, easier by car than 81% of Illinois towns.
How Dahlgren 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 Dahlgren is worth $80,800, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $44,861, which is more affordable than 74% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $557 a month. 79.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dahlgren | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $80,800 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $557 | $960 |
| Median household income | $44,861 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 79.7% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.7% | — |
Who lives in Dahlgren
| People | Dahlgren | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 25.1 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.3% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 39.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 5.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 8.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 25.8 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.4% | 90.4% |
Weather in Dahlgren
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 22.1°F. About 47.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.4 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 43 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 110 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dahlgren since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 19, 1996 about 3.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 11 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 19, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on November 15, 1955.
Severe weather in Hamilton County since 1996
Hamilton County has been included in 10 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 |
| July 2, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1850: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Hamilton County
Hamilton County had 2,057 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,483 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Dahlgren itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in Dahlgren
1 public school with 144 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dahlgren Elem School | K-6 | 144 | 14.4 |
Towns near Dahlgren
- Bluford, IL9.3 mi · 630 people · home $94,500
- McLeansboro, IL10.9 mi · 2,675 people · home $79,500
- Wayne City, IL11.6 mi · 994 people · home $98,300
- Ina, IL12.4 mi · 1,641 people · home $104,200
- Mount Vernon, IL15.0 mi · 14,600 people · home $99,800
- Benton, IL18.0 mi · 6,709 people · home $87,200
- Enfield, IL20.0 mi · 794 people · home $60,400
- West City, IL20.0 mi · 656 people · home $71,400
Dahlgren questions
Is Dahlgren, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dahlgren scores better for retirees than 64% of Illinois towns and quieter than 76%. 14.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 25.1).
How much does a house cost in Dahlgren?
The median owner-occupied home in Dahlgren is valued at $80,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,861, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $557 a month.
What is the weather like in Dahlgren?
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 22.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.1 inches of precipitation a year and 11.4 inches of snow.
Does Dahlgren get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dahlgren since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 19, 1996. 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)