The Town FilesMackinaw, Illinois
Village in Tazewell County · population 1,879 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $158,300
- Household income
- $67,292
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 42
- Median age
- 35.6
Mackinaw is a village of 1,879 people in Tazewell County, Illinois. The median home is worth $158,300, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for families than 92% of Illinois towns, more upscale than 79% of Illinois towns, easier by car than 71% of Illinois towns.
How Mackinaw 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 Mackinaw is worth $158,300, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $67,292, which is more affordable than 42% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $835 a month. 69.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mackinaw | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $158,300 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $835 | $960 |
| Median household income | $67,292 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 69.9% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Mackinaw
| People | Mackinaw | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.6 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.9% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 29.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.2% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 10.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 23.8 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.4% | 90.4% |
Weather in Mackinaw
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 17.1°F. About 37.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 24.4 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
42 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mackinaw since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 10, 2003 about 9.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 56 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 9, 2003.
Severe weather in Tazewell County since 1996
Tazewell 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 |
| November 26, 2013 | Tornado | DR-4157: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 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 Tazewell County
Tazewell County had 46,883 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,089 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Mackinaw itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Public schools in Mackinaw
2 public schools with 735 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dee-Mack Primary/Jr High | PK-8 | 446 | 14.4 |
| Dee-Mack High School | 9-12 | 289 | 12.0 |
Towns near Mackinaw
- Heritage Lake, IL1.6 mi · 1,523 people · home $207,300
- Deer Creek, IL6.7 mi · 667 people · home $148,900
- Tremont, IL7.0 mi · 2,277 people · home $187,400
- Minier, IL7.3 mi · 1,154 people · home $148,400
- Morton, IL8.0 mi · 17,117 people · home $239,400
- Hopedale, IL8.4 mi · 830 people · home $144,700
- Goodfield, IL8.4 mi · 936 people · home $246,400
- Danvers, IL9.5 mi · 1,089 people · home $166,200
Mackinaw questions
Is Mackinaw, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mackinaw scores better for retirees than 59% of Illinois towns and quieter than 59%. 17.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.6).
How much does a house cost in Mackinaw?
The median owner-occupied home in Mackinaw is valued at $158,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,292, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $835 a month.
What is the weather like in Mackinaw?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 17.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.5 inches of precipitation a year and 24.4 inches of snow.
Does Mackinaw get tornadoes?
42 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mackinaw since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 10, 2003. 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)