The Town FilesHarrison, Illinois
Community in Jackson County · population 895 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $176,100
- Household income
- $77,632
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 64.3
Harrison is a community of 895 people in Jackson County, Illinois. The median home is worth $176,100, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks easier by car than 88% of Illinois towns, better for retirees than 81% of Illinois towns.
How Harrison 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 Harrison is worth $176,100, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $77,632, which is more affordable than 45% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $915 a month. 67.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Harrison | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $176,100 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $915 | $960 |
| Median household income | $77,632 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 67.5% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Harrison
| People | Harrison | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 64.3 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 45.7% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 6.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.6% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 9.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 35.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.2% | 90.4% |
Weather in Harrison
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 24.8°F. About 44.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 9.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 40 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 94 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harrison since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on December 18, 1957 about 9.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 11 deaths and 201 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 14, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 69 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 21, 1971.
Severe weather in Jackson County since 1996
Jackson 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 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| June 7, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1991: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 2, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1850: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Jackson County
Jackson County had 25,266 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,398 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Harrison itself the ACS puts it at 16.3%.
Towns near Harrison
- Murphysboro, IL2.1 mi · 7,093 people · home $85,900
- De Soto, IL6.1 mi · 1,407 people · home $94,700
- Carbondale, IL8.1 mi · 21,857 people · home $127,900
- Elkville, IL9.4 mi · 838 people · home $71,000
- Hurst, IL10.6 mi · 764 people · home $68,600
- Ava, IL10.8 mi · 553 people · home $90,500
- Cambria, IL11.9 mi · 1,505 people · home $143,800
- Royalton, IL13.3 mi · 1,068 people · home $71,500
Harrison questions
Is Harrison, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Harrison scores better for retirees than 81% of Illinois towns and quieter than 51%. 45.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 64.3).
How much does a house cost in Harrison?
The median owner-occupied home in Harrison is valued at $176,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $77,632, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $915 a month.
What is the weather like in Harrison?
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 24.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.0 inches of precipitation a year and 9.9 inches of snow.
Does Harrison get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harrison since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on December 18, 1957. 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)