The Town FilesDawson, Illinois
Village in Sangamon County · population 519 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $91,000
- Household income
- $76,339
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 21 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 35
- Median age
- 42.1
Dawson is a village of 519 people in Sangamon County, Illinois. The median home is worth $91,000, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for retirees than 92% of Illinois towns, quieter than 92% of Illinois towns, easier by car than 76% of Illinois towns.
How Dawson 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 Dawson is worth $91,000, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.2 times the median household income of $76,339, which is more affordable than 98% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $850 a month. 77.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dawson | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $91,000 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $850 | $960 |
| Median household income | $76,339 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 77.1% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Dawson
| People | Dawson | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.7% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.4% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.6% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 3.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 27.9% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 22.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.5% | 90.4% |
Weather in Dawson
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 19.9°F. About 38.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 20.6 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 28 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 111 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dawson since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on August 19, 2009 about 8.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 36 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 44 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 8, 2020.
Severe weather in Sangamon County since 1996
Sangamon County has been included in 12 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 |
| February 9, 2007 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1681: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Sangamon County
Sangamon County had 134,376 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $69,350 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Dawson itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Towns near Dawson
- Riverton, IL4.0 mi · 3,532 people · home $152,200
- Spaulding, IL4.5 mi · 801 people · home $220,500
- Mechanicsburg, IL4.7 mi · 662 people · home $188,800
- Sherman, IL8.0 mi · 4,673 people · home $297,800
- Rochester, IL8.2 mi · 3,863 people · home $238,900
- Williamsville, IL8.3 mi · 1,425 people · home $199,300
- Grandview, IL8.6 mi · 1,405 people · home $71,500
- Springfield, IL10.6 mi · 114,394 people · home $162,100
Dawson questions
Is Dawson, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dawson scores better for retirees than 92% of Illinois towns and quieter than 92%. 20.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.1).
How much does a house cost in Dawson?
The median owner-occupied home in Dawson is valued at $91,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,339, so homes cost about 1.2 times income. Median rent is $850 a month.
What is the weather like in Dawson?
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 19.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.0 inches of precipitation a year and 20.6 inches of snow.
Does Dawson get tornadoes?
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dawson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on August 19, 2009. 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)