The Town FilesGrayville, Illinois
City in White County · population 1,550 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $74,200
- Household income
- $46,319
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 41.5
Grayville is a city of 1,550 people in White County, Illinois. The median home is worth $74,200, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks quieter than 88% of Illinois towns, better for retirees than 77% of Illinois towns, easier by car than 76% of Illinois towns.
How Grayville 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 Grayville is worth $74,200, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $46,319, which is more affordable than 85% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $677 a month. 71.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Grayville | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $74,200 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $677 | $960 |
| Median household income | $46,319 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 71.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Grayville
| People | Grayville | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.5 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.2% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 29.8% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 11.6% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 28.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.4% | 90.4% |
Weather in Grayville
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 23.6°F. About 50.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.8 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 46 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 97 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grayville since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 15 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 2, 1990 about 9.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 6 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 3, 1996.
Severe weather in White County since 1996
White County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| June 7, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1991: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| February 1, 2005 | Snowstorm | EM-3199: Record/Near Record Snow |
Jobs and pay in White County
White County had 4,205 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,671 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Grayville itself the ACS puts it at 8.5%.
Public schools in Grayville
2 public schools with 278 students, about 12.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grayville Jr Sr High School | 6-12 | 140 | 11.7 |
| Wells Elementary School | PK-6 | 138 | 13.8 |
Towns near Grayville
- Crossville, IL7.4 mi · 623 people · home $64,500
- Albion, IL9.0 mi · 1,971 people · home $93,800
- New Harmony, IN9.4 mi · 690 people · home $184,400
- Poseyville, IN13.0 mi · 966 people · home $144,400
- Carmi, IL15.1 mi · 4,865 people · home $114,800
- Cynthiana, IN16.3 mi · 552 people · home $141,500
- Owensville, IN16.6 mi · 1,338 people · home $131,700
- Mount Carmel, IL16.7 mi · 7,015 people · home $89,300
Grayville questions
Is Grayville, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Grayville scores better for retirees than 77% of Illinois towns and quieter than 88%. 25.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.5).
How much does a house cost in Grayville?
The median owner-occupied home in Grayville is valued at $74,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,319, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $677 a month.
What is the weather like in Grayville?
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 23.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.0 inches of precipitation a year and 11.8 inches of snow.
Does Grayville get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grayville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 2, 1990. 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)