The Town FilesDowns, Illinois
Village in McLean County · population 1,201 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $240,600
- Household income
- $110,625
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 42
- Median age
- 33.4
Downs is a village of 1,201 people in McLean County, Illinois. The median home is worth $240,600, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for families than 98% of Illinois towns, more upscale than 95% of Illinois towns, better for young professionals than 76% of Illinois towns.
How Downs 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 Downs is worth $240,600, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $110,625, which is more affordable than 50% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,258 a month. 90.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Downs | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $240,600 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,258 | $960 |
| Median household income | $110,625 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 90.9% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Downs
| People | Downs | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.4 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.0% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 39.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 55.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.8% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 12.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 17.7% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 20.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.8% | 90.4% |
Weather in Downs
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 15.6°F. About 39.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.5 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 26 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 133 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
42 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Downs since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on December 1, 2018 about 8.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 18, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 49 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 15, 2025.
Severe weather in McLean County since 1996
McLean County has been included in 11 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 |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| February 9, 2007 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1681: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in McLean County
McLean County had 88,945 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $66,183 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Downs itself the ACS puts it at 1.7%.
Public schools in Downs
3 public schools with 1,080 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tri-Valley Middle School | 4-8 | 457 | 14.3 |
| Tri-Valley High School | 9-12 | 313 | 13.0 |
| Tri-Valley Elem School | PK-3 | 310 | 12.4 |
Towns near Downs
- Bloomington, IL6.8 mi · 78,680 people · home $203,300
- Le Roy, IL7.9 mi · 3,512 people · home $167,600
- Heyworth, IL8.0 mi · 2,791 people · home $210,600
- Normal, IL10.0 mi · 52,736 people · home $213,600
- Twin Grove, IL12.5 mi · 1,524 people · home $264,800
- Wapella, IL12.8 mi · 513 people · home $98,500
- Hudson, IL15.2 mi · 1,753 people · home $224,700
- McLean, IL15.8 mi · 743 people · home $140,400
Downs questions
Is Downs, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Downs scores better for retirees than 56% of Illinois towns and quieter than 60%. 11.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.4).
How much does a house cost in Downs?
The median owner-occupied home in Downs is valued at $240,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $110,625, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $1,258 a month.
What is the weather like in Downs?
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 15.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.4 inches of precipitation a year and 6.5 inches of snow.
Does Downs get tornadoes?
42 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Downs since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on December 1, 2018. 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)