The Town FilesErie, Illinois
Village in Whiteside County · population 1,518 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $151,900
- Household income
- $82,760
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 30 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 42.5
Erie is a village of 1,518 people in Whiteside County, Illinois. The median home is worth $151,900, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks easier by car than 96% of Illinois towns, more of a college town than 93% of Illinois towns, better for families than 78% of Illinois towns.
How Erie 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 Erie is worth $151,900, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $82,760, which is more affordable than 74% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $767 a month. 75.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Erie | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $151,900 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $767 | $960 |
| Median household income | $82,760 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 75.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Erie
| People | Erie | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.5 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.1% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 3.9% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 19.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.5% | 90.4% |
Weather in Erie
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 12.0°F. About 38.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 29.6 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 145 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Erie since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 29, 1981 about 6.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 22, 1970.
Severe weather in Whiteside County since 1996
Whiteside County has been included in 14 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 |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Whiteside County
Whiteside County had 21,197 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,164 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Erie itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in Erie
3 public schools with 621 students, about 10.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erie Elem School | PK-4 | 254 | 13.4 |
| Erie High School | 9-12 | 192 | 9.1 |
| Erie Middle School | 5-8 | 175 | 9.2 |
Towns near Erie
- Prophetstown, IL7.6 mi · 1,946 people · home $116,600
- Lyndon, IL9.1 mi · 537 people · home $113,500
- Albany, IL11.2 mi · 864 people · home $148,800
- Morrison, IL12.0 mi · 4,085 people · home $118,000
- Cordova, IL12.4 mi · 671 people · home $181,300
- Port Byron, IL13.1 mi · 1,668 people · home $278,200
- Camanche, IA13.7 mi · 4,570 people · home $172,400
- Princeton, IA14.3 mi · 923 people · home $266,200
Erie questions
Is Erie, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Erie scores better for retirees than 63% of Illinois towns and quieter than 42%. 20.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.5).
How much does a house cost in Erie?
The median owner-occupied home in Erie is valued at $151,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $82,760, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $767 a month.
What is the weather like in Erie?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 12.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.3 inches of precipitation a year and 29.6 inches of snow.
Does Erie get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Erie since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 29, 1981. 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)