The Town FilesMakanda, Illinois
Village in Jackson County · population 547 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $242,600
- Household income
- $79,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 50.3
Makanda is a village of 547 people in Jackson County, Illinois. The median home is worth $242,600, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for retirees than 98% of Illinois towns, better for young professionals than 93% of Illinois towns, more upscale than 90% of Illinois towns.
How Makanda 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 Makanda is worth $242,600, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $79,000, which is more affordable than 19% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $954 a month. 81.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Makanda | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $242,600 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $954 | $960 |
| Median household income | $79,000 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 81.9% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Makanda
| People | Makanda | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.3 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.5% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 65.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.3% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 9.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.6% | — |
| Work from home | 10.5% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 24.0 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.1% | 90.4% |
Weather in Makanda
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 23.4°F. About 49.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.4 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 38 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 103 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Makanda since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on May 16, 2025 about 8.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 48 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 21, 1971.
Severe weather in Jackson County since 1996
Jackson 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 |
| June 7, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1991: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 2, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1850: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Jackson County
Jackson County had 25,266 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,398 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Makanda itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Towns near Makanda
- Cobden, IL6.1 mi · 1,074 people · home $98,300
- Carbondale, IL7.1 mi · 21,857 people · home $127,900
- Anna, IL11.0 mi · 4,303 people · home $134,300
- Murphysboro, IL11.4 mi · 7,093 people · home $85,900
- Jonesboro, IL11.8 mi · 1,711 people · home $106,400
- Cambria, IL12.7 mi · 1,505 people · home $143,800
- Carterville, IL12.9 mi · 5,848 people · home $197,100
- Harrison, IL13.4 mi · 895 people · home $176,100
Makanda questions
Is Makanda, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Makanda scores better for retirees than 98% of Illinois towns and quieter than 44%. 25.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.3).
How much does a house cost in Makanda?
The median owner-occupied home in Makanda is valued at $242,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $79,000, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $954 a month.
What is the weather like in Makanda?
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 23.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.0 inches of precipitation a year and 11.4 inches of snow.
Does Makanda get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Makanda since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on May 16, 2025. 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)