The Town FilesHavana, Illinois
City in Mason County · population 2,963 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $95,300
- Household income
- $41,184
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 45.6
Havana is a city of 2,963 people in Mason County, Illinois. The median home is worth $95,300, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks hipper than 95% of Illinois towns, better for cycling than 87% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 78% of Illinois towns.
How Havana 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 Havana is worth $95,300, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $41,184, which is more affordable than 45% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $625 a month. 74.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Havana | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $95,300 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $625 | $960 |
| Median household income | $41,184 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 74.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Havana
| People | Havana | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.6 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.8% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 9.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 10.7% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 24.0 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.1% | 90.4% |
Weather in Havana
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 16.4°F. About 41.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 35 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 133 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Havana since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 13, 1995 about 9.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 50 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 10, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 34 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 4, 2010.
Severe weather in Mason County since 1996
Mason County has been included in 18 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 |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| December 29, 2006 | Snowstorm | EM-3269: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Mason County
Mason County had 2,828 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,271 a year. Unemployment was 5.2% in 2023; in Havana itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Public schools in Havana
3 public schools with 853 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Havana Jr High School | 5-8 | 312 | 13.6 |
| New Central Elem School | K-4 | 279 | 13.3 |
| Havana High School | 9-12 | 262 | 12.5 |
Towns near Havana
- Lewistown, IL8.7 mi · 2,041 people · home $102,200
- St. David, IL13.6 mi · 522 people · home $65,400
- Cuba, IL15.5 mi · 1,184 people · home $63,900
- Astoria, IL16.4 mi · 929 people · home $67,600
- Manito, IL17.0 mi · 1,552 people · home $112,600
- Chandlerville, IL17.8 mi · 527 people · home $68,800
- Canton, IL18.6 mi · 13,242 people · home $107,100
- Vermont, IL19.6 mi · 570 people · home $57,000
Havana questions
Is Havana, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Havana scores better for retirees than 34% of Illinois towns and quieter than 49%. 23.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.6).
How much does a house cost in Havana?
The median owner-occupied home in Havana is valued at $95,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,184, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $625 a month.
What is the weather like in Havana?
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 16.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.0 inches of precipitation a year and 27.9 inches of snow.
Does Havana get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Havana since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 13, 1995. 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)