The Town FilesGirard, Illinois
City in Macoupin County · population 1,785 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $98,100
- Household income
- $50,300
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 16 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 40.9
Girard is a city of 1,785 people in Macoupin County, Illinois. The median home is worth $98,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for young professionals than 72% of Illinois towns.
How Girard 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 Girard is worth $98,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $50,300, which is more affordable than 61% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $808 a month. 54.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Girard | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $98,100 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $808 | $960 |
| Median household income | $50,300 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 54.7% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Girard
| People | Girard | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.9 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.6% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.3% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 31.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 12.5% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 25.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.6% | 90.4% |
Weather in Girard
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 20.9°F. About 38.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 16.1 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 25 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 101 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Girard since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 19, 2011 about 0.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 18, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 19, 1996.
Severe weather in Macoupin County since 1996
Macoupin County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, biological.
| 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 |
| October 3, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1800: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| February 9, 2007 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1681: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Macoupin County
Macoupin County had 10,150 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,689 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Girard itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Girard
2 public schools with 444 students, about 12.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Mac Middle School | 6-8 | 239 | 12.6 |
| North Mac Intermediate | 3-5 | 205 | 11.4 |
Towns near Girard
- Virden, IL4.2 mi · 3,231 people · home $101,300
- Thayer, IL6.6 mi · 632 people · home $97,100
- Farmersville, IL6.9 mi · 689 people · home $116,900
- Auburn, IL9.2 mi · 4,574 people · home $149,600
- Divernon, IL11.0 mi · 1,139 people · home $133,700
- Palmyra, IL11.4 mi · 605 people · home $87,500
- Carlinville, IL12.7 mi · 5,710 people · home $105,700
- Waverly, IL13.6 mi · 1,194 people · home $98,400
Girard questions
Is Girard, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Girard scores better for retirees than 43% of Illinois towns and quieter than 67%. 17.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.9).
How much does a house cost in Girard?
The median owner-occupied home in Girard is valued at $98,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,300, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $808 a month.
What is the weather like in Girard?
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 20.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.4 inches of precipitation a year and 16.1 inches of snow.
Does Girard get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Girard since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 19, 2011. 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)