The Town FilesFarmer City, Illinois
City in De Witt County · population 1,828 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $138,500
- Household income
- $67,067
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 19 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 35
- Median age
- 42.2
Farmer City is a city of 1,828 people in De Witt County, Illinois. The median home is worth $138,500, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks quieter than 96% of Illinois towns, easier by car than 79% of Illinois towns.
How Farmer City 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 Farmer City is worth $138,500, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $67,067, which is more affordable than 55% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $468 a month. 85.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Farmer City | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $138,500 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $468 | $960 |
| Median household income | $67,067 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 85.8% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Farmer City
| People | Farmer City | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.2 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.9% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.2% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.8% | — |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 26.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.2% | 90.4% |
Weather in Farmer City
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 17.4°F. About 39.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 18.6 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 128 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Farmer City since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 5, 1960 about 9.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 52 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 18, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 28, 2019.
Severe weather in De Witt County since 1996
De Witt County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4728: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| February 9, 2007 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1681: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in De Witt County
De Witt County had 5,008 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $67,169 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Farmer City itself the ACS puts it at 9.2%.
Public schools in Farmer City
2 public schools with 453 students, about 11.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ruth M Schneider Elem School | PK-3 | 265 | 13.3 |
| Blue Ridge High School | 9-12 | 188 | 9.9 |
Towns near Farmer City
- Mansfield, IL7.4 mi · 928 people · home $142,200
- Le Roy, IL8.9 mi · 3,512 people · home $167,600
- Saybrook, IL13.8 mi · 654 people · home $98,100
- Mahomet, IL13.9 mi · 9,434 people · home $299,100
- Lake of the Woods, IL14.4 mi · 2,403 people · home $193,500
- Monticello, IL15.3 mi · 5,941 people · home $210,500
- Fisher, IL16.0 mi · 2,062 people · home $190,100
- Downs, IL16.7 mi · 1,201 people · home $240,600
Farmer City questions
Is Farmer City, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Farmer City scores better for retirees than 32% of Illinois towns and quieter than 96%. 18.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.2).
How much does a house cost in Farmer City?
The median owner-occupied home in Farmer City is valued at $138,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,067, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $468 a month.
What is the weather like in Farmer City?
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 17.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.6 inches of precipitation a year and 18.6 inches of snow.
Does Farmer City get tornadoes?
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Farmer City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 5, 1960. 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)