The Town FilesHillsboro, Illinois
City in Montgomery County · population 5,902 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $111,700
- Household income
- $50,158
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 40.4
Hillsboro is a city of 5,902 people in Montgomery County, Illinois. The median home is worth $111,700, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for cycling than 88% of Illinois towns, better for retirees than 84% of Illinois towns, better for first-time buyers than 79% of Illinois towns.
How Hillsboro 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 Hillsboro is worth $111,700, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $50,158, which is more affordable than 50% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $715 a month. 78.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hillsboro | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $111,700 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $715 | $960 |
| Median household income | $50,158 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 78.4% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in Hillsboro
| People | Hillsboro | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.9% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 14.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.1% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.6% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 8.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 7.5% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 20.4 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.4% | 90.4% |
Weather in Hillsboro
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 21.4°F. About 42.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.0 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 42 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 100 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hillsboro since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on December 1, 2018 about 6.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 0 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 15, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 44 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 28, 2011.
Severe weather in Montgomery County since 1996
Montgomery County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, biological.
| 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 |
| October 3, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1800: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| February 9, 2007 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1681: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Montgomery County
Montgomery County had 8,783 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $83,351 a year. Unemployment was 5.1% in 2023; in Hillsboro itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in Hillsboro
3 public schools with 1,405 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beckemeyer Elem School | K-5 | 642 | 14.9 |
| Hillsboro High School | 9-12 | 436 | 12.5 |
| Hillsboro Jr High School | 6-8 | 327 | 12.1 |
Towns near Hillsboro
- Litchfield, IL10.3 mi · 6,605 people · home $104,200
- Gillespie, IL18.8 mi · 3,168 people · home $91,000
- Staunton, IL20.5 mi · 5,054 people · home $143,500
- Greenville, IL20.5 mi · 7,083 people · home $122,000
- Carlinville, IL22.7 mi · 5,710 people · home $105,700
- Vandalia, IL23.9 mi · 7,458 people · home $98,500
- Pana, IL25.4 mi · 5,199 people · home $77,900
- Virden, IL27.8 mi · 3,231 people · home $101,300
Hillsboro questions
Is Hillsboro, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hillsboro scores better for retirees than 84% of Illinois towns and quieter than 64%. 14.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.4).
How much does a house cost in Hillsboro?
The median owner-occupied home in Hillsboro is valued at $111,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,158, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $715 a month.
What is the weather like in Hillsboro?
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 21.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.1 inches of precipitation a year and 14.0 inches of snow.
Does Hillsboro get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hillsboro since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on December 1, 2018. 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)