The Town FilesElsah, Illinois
Village in Jersey County · population 519 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $221,400
- Household income
- $98,125
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 20.3
Elsah is a village of 519 people in Jersey County, Illinois. The median home is worth $221,400, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for a vacation home than 99% of Illinois towns, more of a college town than 98% of Illinois towns, better for young professionals than 78% of Illinois towns.
How Elsah 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 Elsah is worth $221,400, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $98,125, which is more affordable than 45% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,406 a month. 87.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elsah | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $221,400 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,406 | $960 |
| Median household income | $98,125 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 87.2% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 34.0% | — |
Who lives in Elsah
| People | Elsah | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 20.3 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 7.2% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 0.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 61.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 0.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.3% | — |
| Work from home | 19.5% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 11.4 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.7% | 90.4% |
Weather in Elsah
July highs average 89.1°F and January lows 21.9°F. About 39.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.8 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 44 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 102 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elsah since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 7, 1980 about 9.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 33 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 44 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 22, 2006.
Severe weather in Jersey County since 1996
Jersey County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| December 13, 2021 | Tornado | EM-3577: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 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 24, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1771: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Jersey County
Jersey County had 5,218 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,258 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Elsah itself the ACS puts it at 8%.
Towns near Elsah
- Grafton, IL4.1 mi · 626 people · home $275,800
- Godfrey, IL7.1 mi · 17,825 people · home $192,200
- Old Jamestown, MO9.1 mi · 19,790 people · home $236,100
- Florissant, MO10.8 mi · 52,533 people · home $148,800
- Hazelwood, MO11.2 mi · 25,458 people · home $167,400
- Jerseyville, IL11.4 mi · 8,337 people · home $143,900
- Alton, IL11.5 mi · 25,676 people · home $103,700
- Black Jack, MO11.8 mi · 6,634 people · home $193,000
Elsah questions
Is Elsah, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elsah scores better for retirees than 37% of Illinois towns and quieter than 55%. 7.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 20.3).
How much does a house cost in Elsah?
The median owner-occupied home in Elsah is valued at $221,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $98,125, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $1,406 a month.
What is the weather like in Elsah?
July highs average 89.1°F and January lows 21.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.4 inches of precipitation a year and 12.8 inches of snow.
Does Elsah get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elsah since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 7, 1980. 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)