The Town FilesKirkwood, Illinois
Village in Warren County · population 678 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $89,100
- Household income
- $67,917
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 32.1
Kirkwood is a village of 678 people in Warren County, Illinois. The median home is worth $89,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks quieter than 90% of Illinois towns, better for first-time buyers than 78% of Illinois towns, easier by car than 74% of Illinois towns.
How Kirkwood 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 Kirkwood is worth $89,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.3 times the median household income of $67,917, which is more affordable than 96% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $938 a month. 75.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kirkwood | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $89,100 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $938 | $960 |
| Median household income | $67,917 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 75.4% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1946 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Kirkwood
| People | Kirkwood | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.1 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.2% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 30.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.2% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.8% | — |
| Work from home | 4.9% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 21.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.9% | 90.4% |
Weather in Kirkwood
July highs average 84.1°F and January lows 13.6°F. About 39.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 25.6 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 139 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kirkwood since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 16, 2015 about 2.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 1 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 11, 2014.
Severe weather in Warren County since 1996
Warren County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, 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 |
| 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 Warren County
Warren County had 6,368 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,522 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Kirkwood itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Towns near Kirkwood
- Monmouth, IL6.4 mi · 8,902 people · home $86,800
- Roseville, IL10.5 mi · 892 people · home $85,700
- Oquawka, IL11.6 mi · 1,134 people · home $92,000
- Stronghurst, IL11.9 mi · 833 people · home $124,600
- Alexis, IL16.8 mi · 793 people · home $97,600
- Abingdon, IL18.7 mi · 2,951 people · home $99,600
- Keithsburg, IL18.8 mi · 550 people · home $65,900
- Burlington, IA20.1 mi · 23,982 people · home $114,300
Kirkwood questions
Is Kirkwood, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kirkwood scores better for retirees than 30% of Illinois towns and quieter than 90%. 14.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.1).
How much does a house cost in Kirkwood?
The median owner-occupied home in Kirkwood is valued at $89,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,917, so homes cost about 1.3 times income. Median rent is $938 a month.
What is the weather like in Kirkwood?
July highs average 84.1°F and January lows 13.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.1 inches of precipitation a year and 25.6 inches of snow.
Does Kirkwood get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kirkwood since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 16, 2015. 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)