The Town FilesMason City, Illinois
City in Mason County · population 2,077 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $91,100
- Household income
- $66,524
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 49.8
Mason City is a city of 2,077 people in Mason County, Illinois. The median home is worth $91,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks hipper than 92% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 75% of Illinois towns.
How Mason City 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 Mason City is worth $91,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.4 times the median household income of $66,524, which is more affordable than 93% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $767 a month. 78.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mason City | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $91,100 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $767 | $960 |
| Median household income | $66,524 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 78.3% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1951 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Mason City
| People | Mason City | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.8 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.4% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.1% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.7% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 10.8% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 32.4 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.6% | 90.4% |
Weather in Mason City
July highs average 85.2°F and January lows 16.2°F. About 39.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 28 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 122 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mason City since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 15, 1968 about 7.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 20, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 3.75 inches on August 18, 2001.
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 Mason City itself the ACS puts it at 4.2%.
Public schools in Mason City
4 public schools with 668 students, about 11.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illini Central Grade School | K-5 | 255 | 9.8 |
| Illini Central High School | 9-12 | 190 | 9.5 |
| Illini Central Middle School | 6-8 | 151 | 12.6 |
| West Campus Facility | PK-PK | 72 | 36.0 |
Towns near Mason City
- Greenview, IL8.4 mi · 745 people · home $93,700
- Delavan, IL14.1 mi · 1,568 people · home $123,600
- Green Valley, IL14.4 mi · 630 people · home $115,900
- Petersburg, IL15.2 mi · 2,258 people · home $177,700
- Manito, IL15.7 mi · 1,552 people · home $112,600
- Athens, IL16.7 mi · 1,977 people · home $164,000
- Lake Petersburg, IL17.2 mi · 740 people · home $338,700
- Lincoln, IL17.6 mi · 13,288 people · home $124,300
Mason City questions
Is Mason City, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mason City scores better for retirees than 57% of Illinois towns and quieter than 54%. 24.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.8).
How much does a house cost in Mason City?
The median owner-occupied home in Mason City is valued at $91,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,524, so homes cost about 1.4 times income. Median rent is $767 a month.
What is the weather like in Mason City?
July highs average 85.2°F and January lows 16.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.3 inches of precipitation a year and 12.9 inches of snow.
Does Mason City get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mason City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 15, 1968. 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)