The Town FilesGrafton, Illinois
City in Jersey County · population 626 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $275,800
- Household income
- $105,417
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 52.2
Grafton is a city of 626 people in Jersey County, Illinois. The median home is worth $275,800, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for a vacation home than 100% of Illinois towns, quieter than 99% of Illinois towns, better for retirees than 95% of Illinois towns.
How Grafton 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 Grafton is worth $275,800, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $105,417, which is more affordable than 35% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $629 a month. 87.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Grafton | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $275,800 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $629 | $960 |
| Median household income | $105,417 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 87.0% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1994 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 19.8% | — |
Who lives in Grafton
| People | Grafton | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.2 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.1% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.8% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 12.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 28.8% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 29.3 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.4% | 90.4% |
Weather in Grafton
July highs average 89.1°F and January lows 21.9°F. About 39.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.5 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 44 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 102 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grafton since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 25, 1954 about 3.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 1 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 22, 2006.
Severe weather in Jersey County since 1996
Jersey County has been included in 20 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 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| June 24, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1771: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Jersey County
Jersey County had 5,218 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,258 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Grafton itself the ACS puts it at 0.7%.
Public schools in Grafton
3 public schools with 710 students, about 15.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orchard Farm Middle School | 6-8 | 506 | 15.3 |
| Grafton Elem School | PK-4 | 194 | 32.3 |
| Il Youth Center - Pere Marquette | 8-12 | 10 | 1.4 |
Towns near Grafton
- Elsah, IL4.1 mi · 519 people · home $221,400
- Godfrey, IL11.0 mi · 17,825 people · home $192,200
- Jerseyville, IL11.1 mi · 8,337 people · home $143,900
- Old Jamestown, MO12.4 mi · 19,790 people · home $236,100
- Hazelwood, MO12.7 mi · 25,458 people · home $167,400
- Florissant, MO13.3 mi · 52,533 people · home $148,800
- St. Charles, MO13.4 mi · 70,493 people · home $298,700
- Bridgeton, MO14.0 mi · 11,445 people · home $237,700
Grafton questions
Is Grafton, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Grafton scores better for retirees than 95% of Illinois towns and quieter than 99%. 28.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.2).
How much does a house cost in Grafton?
The median owner-occupied home in Grafton is valued at $275,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $105,417, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $629 a month.
What is the weather like in Grafton?
July highs average 89.1°F and January lows 21.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.4 inches of precipitation a year and 12.5 inches of snow.
Does Grafton get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grafton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 25, 1954. 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)