The Town FilesKeithsburg, Illinois
City in Mercer County · population 550 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $65,900
- Household income
- $44,625
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 20 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 52.7
Keithsburg is a city of 550 people in Mercer County, Illinois. The median home is worth $65,900, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks quieter than 89% of Illinois towns.
How Keithsburg 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 Keithsburg is worth $65,900, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $44,625, which is more affordable than 90% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $607 a month. 80.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Keithsburg | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $65,900 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $607 | $960 |
| Median household income | $44,625 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 80.9% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.2% | — |
Who lives in Keithsburg
| People | Keithsburg | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.7 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.8% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 2.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.1% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 13.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 41.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.1% | 90.4% |
Weather in Keithsburg
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 15.3°F. About 36.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 20.4 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 25 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 122 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Keithsburg since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 15, 2019 about 5.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 3, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 30, 2003.
Severe weather in Mercer County since 1996
Mercer 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 |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Mercer County
Mercer County had 2,968 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,706 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Keithsburg itself the ACS puts it at 9.5%.
Towns near Keithsburg
- New Boston, IL5.9 mi · 613 people · home $95,400
- Oquawka, IL11.2 mi · 1,134 people · home $92,000
- Aledo, IL12.0 mi · 3,633 people · home $147,600
- Mediapolis, IA13.5 mi · 1,688 people · home $179,700
- Wapello, IA14.2 mi · 2,084 people · home $143,900
- Morning Sun, IA16.4 mi · 752 people · home $102,200
- Kirkwood, IL18.8 mi · 678 people · home $89,100
- Viola, IL19.6 mi · 869 people · home $120,000
Keithsburg questions
Is Keithsburg, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Keithsburg scores better for retirees than 6% of Illinois towns and quieter than 89%. 31.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.7).
How much does a house cost in Keithsburg?
The median owner-occupied home in Keithsburg is valued at $65,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,625, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $607 a month.
What is the weather like in Keithsburg?
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 15.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.3 inches of precipitation a year and 20.4 inches of snow.
Does Keithsburg get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Keithsburg since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 15, 2019. 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)