The Town FilesDe Soto, Illinois
Village in Jackson County · population 1,407 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $94,700
- Household income
- $62,813
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 32
- Median age
- 38.4
De Soto is a village of 1,407 people in Jackson County, Illinois. The median home is worth $94,700, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for retirees than 84% of Illinois towns.
How De Soto 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 De Soto is worth $94,700, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $62,813, which is more affordable than 90% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $832 a month. 47.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | De Soto | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $94,700 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $832 | $960 |
| Median household income | $62,813 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 47.4% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in De Soto
| People | De Soto | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.4 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.0% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.3% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 10.9% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 17.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.7% | 90.4% |
Weather in De Soto
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 24.8°F. About 44.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.4 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 40 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 94 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of De Soto since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 29, 1982 about 5.4 miles from the town center and killed 10. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 21 deaths and 398 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 3, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 85 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 21, 1971.
Severe weather in Jackson County since 1996
Jackson 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 Jackson County
Jackson County had 25,266 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,398 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in De Soto itself the ACS puts it at 8%.
Public schools in De Soto
2 public schools with 192 students, about 10.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeSoto Elementary School | PK-8 | 192 | 10.7 |
| TCSE-DESOTO ELEM | Other | — | — |
Towns near De Soto
- Hurst, IL4.6 mi · 764 people · home $68,600
- Harrison, IL6.1 mi · 895 people · home $176,100
- Cambria, IL6.4 mi · 1,505 people · home $143,800
- Carbondale, IL6.5 mi · 21,857 people · home $127,900
- Elkville, IL6.5 mi · 838 people · home $71,000
- Murphysboro, IL6.7 mi · 7,093 people · home $85,900
- Royalton, IL7.5 mi · 1,068 people · home $71,500
- Carterville, IL8.6 mi · 5,848 people · home $197,100
De Soto questions
Is De Soto, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, De Soto scores better for retirees than 84% of Illinois towns and quieter than 45%. 14.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.4).
How much does a house cost in De Soto?
The median owner-occupied home in De Soto is valued at $94,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,813, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $832 a month.
What is the weather like in De Soto?
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 24.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.0 inches of precipitation a year and 11.4 inches of snow.
Does De Soto get tornadoes?
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of De Soto since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 29, 1982. 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)