The Town FilesFindlay, Illinois
Village in Shelby County · population 664 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $88,000
- Household income
- $55,417
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 49.5
Findlay is a village of 664 people in Shelby County, Illinois. The median home is worth $88,000, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks easier by car than 99% of Illinois towns, better for cycling than 97% of Illinois towns.
How Findlay 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 Findlay is worth $88,000, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $55,417, which is more affordable than 85% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $813 a month. 87.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Findlay | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $88,000 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $813 | $960 |
| Median household income | $55,417 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 87.1% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1953 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.8% | — |
Who lives in Findlay
| People | Findlay | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.5 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.1% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.9% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 8.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 10.8% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 25.4 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.5% | 90.4% |
Weather in Findlay
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 19.2°F. About 41.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 26 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 114 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Findlay since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on August 21, 1977 about 8.5 miles from the town center and killed 6. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 63 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 7, 1998.
Severe weather in Shelby County since 1996
Shelby County has been included in 10 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 |
| 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 Shelby County
Shelby County had 4,848 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,311 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Findlay itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Public schools in Findlay
1 public school with 129 students, about 11.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Okaw Valley Middle School | 5-8 | 129 | 11.7 |
Towns near Findlay
- Shelbyville, IL8.1 mi · 4,674 people · home $116,400
- Bethany, IL8.5 mi · 1,255 people · home $106,200
- Sullivan, IL9.2 mi · 4,413 people · home $102,500
- Windsor, IL10.3 mi · 1,079 people · home $105,400
- Strasburg, IL13.9 mi · 531 people · home $97,600
- Lovington, IL14.8 mi · 1,069 people · home $87,400
- Assumption, IL15.6 mi · 1,155 people · home $89,700
- Moweaqua, IL15.9 mi · 1,764 people · home $114,500
Findlay questions
Is Findlay, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Findlay scores better for retirees than 66% of Illinois towns and quieter than 57%. 26.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.5).
How much does a house cost in Findlay?
The median owner-occupied home in Findlay is valued at $88,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,417, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $813 a month.
What is the weather like in Findlay?
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 19.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.4 inches of precipitation a year and 12.9 inches of snow.
Does Findlay get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Findlay since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on August 21, 1977. 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)