The Town FilesHarrisburg, Illinois
City in Saline County · population 8,219 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $84,100
- Household income
- $43,415
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 39.0
Harrisburg is a city of 8,219 people in Saline County, Illinois. The median home is worth $84,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks hipper than 92% of Illinois towns, better for retirees than 74% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 73% of Illinois towns.
How Harrisburg 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 Harrisburg is worth $84,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $43,415, which is more affordable than 68% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $760 a month. 61.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Harrisburg | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $84,100 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $760 | $960 |
| Median household income | $43,415 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 61.5% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Harrisburg
| People | Harrisburg | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.6% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 29.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 3.6% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 18.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.8% | 90.4% |
Weather in Harrisburg
July highs average 89.1°F and January lows 24.0°F. About 47.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.3 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 43 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 95 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harrisburg since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on February 29, 2012 about 0.9 miles from the town center and killed 8. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 8 deaths and 117 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on August 6, 2019.
Severe weather in Saline County since 1996
Saline County has been included in 9 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 |
| July 2, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1850: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| March 2, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1826: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Saline County
Saline County had 8,307 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,586 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Harrisburg itself the ACS puts it at 9.5%.
Public schools in Harrisburg
6 public schools with 1,836 students, about 11.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg High School | 9-12 | 528 | 12.6 |
| West Side Primary School | K-2 | 407 | 11.6 |
| East Side Intermediate School | 3-5 | 385 | 12.8 |
| Harrisburg Middle School | 6-8 | 348 | 12.0 |
| Bulldog Early Learning Academy | PK-PK | 120 | 20.0 |
| School District 428 IYC-HRB | 7-12 | 48 | 4.0 |
Towns near Harrisburg
- Eldorado, IL7.7 mi · 3,743 people · home $66,200
- Marion, IL21.6 mi · 16,855 people · home $158,300
- Johnston City, IL21.7 mi · 3,384 people · home $88,100
- West Frankfort, IL23.8 mi · 7,275 people · home $81,200
- McLeansboro, IL24.4 mi · 2,675 people · home $79,500
- Herrin, IL26.8 mi · 12,352 people · home $113,300
- Benton, IL27.8 mi · 6,709 people · home $87,200
- Carterville, IL29.5 mi · 5,848 people · home $197,100
Harrisburg questions
Is Harrisburg, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Harrisburg scores better for retirees than 74% of Illinois towns and quieter than 38%. 20.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.0).
How much does a house cost in Harrisburg?
The median owner-occupied home in Harrisburg is valued at $84,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $43,415, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $760 a month.
What is the weather like in Harrisburg?
July highs average 89.1°F and January lows 24.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.6 inches of precipitation a year and 7.3 inches of snow.
Does Harrisburg get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harrisburg since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on February 29, 2012. 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)