The Town FilesHoopeston, Illinois
City in Vermilion County · population 4,915 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $78,100
- Household income
- $60,861
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 20 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 38.7
Hoopeston is a city of 4,915 people in Vermilion County, Illinois. The median home is worth $78,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 96% of Illinois towns, better for cycling than 89% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 81% of Illinois towns.
- #5 in The 12 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in Illinois
- #8 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Illinois
- #14 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Illinois
- #15 in 25 Small Towns in Illinois With the Cheapest Homes
- #42 in The 50 Most Affordable Small Towns in America
- #45 in The 50 Most Affordable Places in America
How Hoopeston 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 Hoopeston is worth $78,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.3 times the median household income of $60,861, which is more affordable than 96% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $882 a month. 69.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hoopeston | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $78,100 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $882 | $960 |
| Median household income | $60,861 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 69.1% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1940 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Hoopeston
| People | Hoopeston | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.7 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.9% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.6% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 15.1% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 19.0 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.2% | 90.4% |
Weather in Hoopeston
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 18.3°F. About 40.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 20.3 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 118 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hoopeston since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on November 17, 2013 about 4.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 20, 2017.
Severe weather in Vermilion County since 1996
Vermilion County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4728: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| November 26, 2013 | Tornado | DR-4157: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Vermilion County
Vermilion County had 25,748 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,579 a year. Unemployment was 5.8% in 2023; in Hoopeston itself the ACS puts it at 7.6%.
Public schools in Hoopeston
4 public schools with 1,103 students, about 12.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hoopeston Area High School | 9-12 | 330 | 12.2 |
| Maple Elem School | PK-2 | 297 | 13.5 |
| John Greer Elem School | 3-5 | 244 | 11.6 |
| Hoopeston Area Middle School | 6-8 | 232 | 12.2 |
Towns near Hoopeston
- Watseka, IL22.0 mi · 4,679 people · home $103,700
- Danville, IL22.2 mi · 29,204 people · home $79,000
- Paxton, IL23.1 mi · 4,450 people · home $120,400
- Attica, IN25.1 mi · 3,036 people · home $118,000
- Tilton, IL25.3 mi · 2,660 people · home $70,400
- Covington, IN26.4 mi · 2,668 people · home $164,400
- Rantoul, IL28.1 mi · 12,371 people · home $118,200
- Westville, IL28.8 mi · 3,167 people · home $100,000
Hoopeston questions
Is Hoopeston, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hoopeston scores better for retirees than 28% of Illinois towns and quieter than 55%. 13.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.7).
How much does a house cost in Hoopeston?
The median owner-occupied home in Hoopeston is valued at $78,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,861, so homes cost about 1.3 times income. Median rent is $882 a month.
What is the weather like in Hoopeston?
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 18.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.9 inches of precipitation a year and 20.3 inches of snow.
Does Hoopeston get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hoopeston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on November 17, 2013. 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)