The Town FilesGardner, Illinois
Village in Grundy County · population 1,366 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $199,600
- Household income
- $88,092
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 23 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 38.5
Gardner is a village of 1,366 people in Grundy County, Illinois. The median home is worth $199,600, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks easier by car than 99% of Illinois towns, better for cycling than 73% of Illinois towns.
How Gardner 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 Gardner is worth $199,600, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $88,092, which is more affordable than 45% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $979 a month. 75.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gardner | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $199,600 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $979 | $960 |
| Median household income | $88,092 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 75.0% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in Gardner
| People | Gardner | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.6% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.4% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.1% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 9.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 1.7% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 30.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.1% | 90.4% |
Weather in Gardner
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 14.0°F. About 37.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.3 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 140 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gardner since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on June 22, 2015 about 5.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 26 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 10, 2013.
Severe weather in Grundy County since 1996
Grundy County has been included in 15 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 |
| November 26, 2013 | Tornado | DR-4157: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 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 Grundy County
Grundy County had 22,349 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $69,868 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Gardner itself the ACS puts it at 13.5%.
Public schools in Gardner
2 public schools with 287 students, about 9.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gardner Elem School | PK-8 | 145 | 11.2 |
| Gardner-South Wilmington Twp H S | 9-12 | 142 | 7.5 |
Towns near Gardner
- South Wilmington, IL2.2 mi · 710 people · home $174,400
- Braceville, IL3.1 mi · 724 people · home $187,900
- Godley, IL5.0 mi · 566 people · home $144,600
- Coal City, IL6.1 mi · 5,705 people · home $201,600
- Essex, IL6.2 mi · 841 people · home $228,200
- Mazon, IL6.6 mi · 979 people · home $207,700
- Braidwood, IL6.9 mi · 6,194 people · home $202,500
- Diamond, IL7.0 mi · 2,640 people · home $220,200
Gardner questions
Is Gardner, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gardner scores better for retirees than 23% of Illinois towns and quieter than 59%. 11.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.5).
How much does a house cost in Gardner?
The median owner-occupied home in Gardner is valued at $199,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $88,092, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $979 a month.
What is the weather like in Gardner?
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 14.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.7 inches of precipitation a year and 23.3 inches of snow.
Does Gardner get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gardner since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on June 22, 2015. 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)