The Town FilesManito, Illinois
Village in Mason County · population 1,552 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $112,600
- Household income
- $71,920
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 20 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 36
- Median age
- 43.7
Manito is a village of 1,552 people in Mason County, Illinois. The median home is worth $112,600, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks quieter than 90% of Illinois towns, better for retirees than 89% of Illinois towns, better for cycling than 87% of Illinois towns.
How Manito 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 Manito is worth $112,600, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $71,920, which is more affordable than 85% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $741 a month. 81.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Manito | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $112,600 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $741 | $960 |
| Median household income | $71,920 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 81.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Manito
| People | Manito | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.7 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.2% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.3% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 27.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.2% | 90.4% |
Weather in Manito
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 16.4°F. About 41.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 20.4 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 35 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 133 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manito 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 6.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 31, 2023.
Severe weather in Mason County since 1996
Mason County has been included in 18 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 |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| December 29, 2006 | Snowstorm | EM-3269: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Mason County
Mason County had 2,828 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,271 a year. Unemployment was 5.2% in 2023; in Manito itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in Manito
3 public schools with 730 students, about 11.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midwest Central Primary School | PK-5 | 427 | 11.2 |
| Midwest Central High School | 9-12 | 244 | 11.1 |
| Spring Lake Elem School | PK-8 | 59 | 14.8 |
Towns near Manito
- Green Valley, IL7.2 mi · 630 people · home $115,900
- South Pekin, IL8.5 mi · 996 people · home $106,400
- Glasford, IL10.7 mi · 866 people · home $102,800
- Delavan, IL12.8 mi · 1,568 people · home $123,600
- Pekin, IL13.2 mi · 31,731 people · home $120,700
- Lake Camelot, IL14.9 mi · 1,798 people · home $236,400
- St. David, IL15.1 mi · 522 people · home $65,400
- North Pekin, IL15.7 mi · 1,478 people · home $125,600
Manito questions
Is Manito, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Manito scores better for retirees than 89% of Illinois towns and quieter than 90%. 25.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.7).
How much does a house cost in Manito?
The median owner-occupied home in Manito is valued at $112,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,920, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $741 a month.
What is the weather like in Manito?
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 16.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.0 inches of precipitation a year and 20.4 inches of snow.
Does Manito get tornadoes?
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manito 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)