The Town FilesLiberty, Illinois
Village in Adams County · population 543 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $137,500
- Household income
- $78,977
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 42.2
Liberty is a village of 543 people in Adams County, Illinois. The median home is worth $137,500, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for families than 97% of Illinois towns, easier by car than 81% of Illinois towns, quieter than 80% of Illinois towns.
How Liberty 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 Liberty is worth $137,500, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $78,977, which is more affordable than 79% of Illinois towns. 90.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Liberty | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $137,500 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | — | $960 |
| Median household income | $78,977 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 90.8% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Liberty
| People | Liberty | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.2 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.2% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.4% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.3% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 21.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.7% | 90.4% |
Weather in Liberty
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 18.6°F. About 36.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.0 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 112 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Liberty since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 14, 1961 about 0.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 20, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 11, 2016.
Severe weather in Adams County since 1996
Adams County has been included in 21 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 Adams County
Adams County had 32,154 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,986 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Liberty itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Liberty
2 public schools with 624 students, about 11.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty Elementary School | PK-6 | 357 | 11.9 |
| Liberty High School | 7-12 | 267 | 10.7 |
Towns near Liberty
- Payson, IL8.5 mi · 1,025 people · home $132,000
- Camp Point, IL11.1 mi · 1,121 people · home $127,800
- Barry, IL13.0 mi · 1,303 people · home $92,700
- Clayton, IL13.1 mi · 639 people · home $91,500
- Quincy, IL14.9 mi · 39,463 people · home $153,200
- Golden, IL16.6 mi · 648 people · home $122,800
- Mendon, IL17.3 mi · 872 people · home $111,600
- Hannibal, MO19.2 mi · 17,108 people · home $127,700
Liberty questions
Is Liberty, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Liberty scores better for retirees than 41% of Illinois towns and quieter than 80%. 26.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.2).
How much does a house cost in Liberty?
The median owner-occupied home in Liberty is valued at $137,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $78,977, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Liberty?
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 18.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.4 inches of precipitation a year and 17.0 inches of snow.
Does Liberty get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Liberty since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 14, 1961. 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)