The Town FilesElmwood, Illinois
City in Peoria County · population 2,058 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $153,500
- Household income
- $90,285
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 21 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 39.2
Elmwood is a city of 2,058 people in Peoria County, Illinois. The median home is worth $153,500, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for families than 93% of Illinois towns, better for retirees than 86% of Illinois towns, hipper than 82% of Illinois towns.
How Elmwood 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 Elmwood is worth $153,500, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $90,285, which is more affordable than 79% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $713 a month. 79.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elmwood | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $153,500 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $713 | $960 |
| Median household income | $90,285 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 79.7% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Elmwood
| People | Elmwood | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.2 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.7% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 28.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.1% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 13.7% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 24.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.4% | 90.4% |
Weather in Elmwood
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 14.5°F. About 38.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.3 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 23 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 143 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elmwood since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 14, 1961 about 6.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 15, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on December 1, 2018.
Severe weather in Peoria County since 1996
Peoria County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| October 3, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1800: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Peoria County
Peoria County had 103,940 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $74,778 a year. Unemployment was 5.5% in 2023; in Elmwood itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Public schools in Elmwood
3 public schools with 645 students, about 14.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elmwood Elem School | PK-6 | 341 | 17.1 |
| Elmwood High School | 9-12 | 206 | 11.4 |
| Elmwood Junior High School | 7-8 | 98 | 16.3 |
Towns near Elmwood
- Yates City, IL2.5 mi · 642 people · home $97,100
- Brimfield, IL5.9 mi · 778 people · home $140,700
- Farmington, IL6.1 mi · 2,389 people · home $101,300
- Hanna City, IL10.4 mi · 1,253 people · home $123,900
- Williamsfield, IL10.4 mi · 575 people · home $109,800
- Lake Camelot, IL15.0 mi · 1,798 people · home $236,400
- Oak Run, IL15.1 mi · 721 people · home $298,300
- Princeville, IL15.4 mi · 1,636 people · home $168,100
Elmwood questions
Is Elmwood, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elmwood scores better for retirees than 86% of Illinois towns and quieter than 56%. 17.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.2).
How much does a house cost in Elmwood?
The median owner-occupied home in Elmwood is valued at $153,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $90,285, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $713 a month.
What is the weather like in Elmwood?
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 14.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.8 inches of precipitation a year and 21.3 inches of snow.
Does Elmwood get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elmwood since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 14, 1961. 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)