The Town FilesMcLean, Illinois
Village in McLean County · population 743 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $140,400
- Household income
- $87,321
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 37.6
McLean is a village of 743 people in McLean County, Illinois. The median home is worth $140,400, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 97% of Illinois towns, better for families than 83% of Illinois towns, more of a college town than 76% of Illinois towns.
How McLean 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 McLean is worth $140,400, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $87,321, which is more affordable than 85% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,400 a month. 88.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | McLean | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $140,400 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,400 | $960 |
| Median household income | $87,321 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 88.7% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in McLean
| People | McLean | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.5% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.4% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.4% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 9.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 19.1% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 29.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.4% | 90.4% |
Weather in McLean
July highs average 84.2°F and January lows 15.6°F. About 40.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 16.6 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 26 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 132 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of McLean since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 5, 1977 about 4.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 73 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 29, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 34 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 9, 2003.
Severe weather in McLean County since 1996
McLean County has been included in 11 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 |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| February 9, 2007 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1681: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in McLean County
McLean County had 88,945 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $66,183 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in McLean itself the ACS puts it at 1.5%.
Towns near McLean
- Atlanta, IL4.8 mi · 1,669 people · home $134,400
- Stanford, IL8.6 mi · 600 people · home $115,300
- Heyworth, IL9.3 mi · 2,791 people · home $210,600
- Minier, IL11.3 mi · 1,154 people · home $148,400
- Twin Grove, IL12.0 mi · 1,524 people · home $264,800
- Wapella, IL12.6 mi · 513 people · home $98,500
- Danvers, IL15.0 mi · 1,089 people · home $166,200
- Bloomington, IL15.3 mi · 78,680 people · home $203,300
McLean questions
Is McLean, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, McLean scores better for retirees than 44% of Illinois towns and quieter than 60%. 10.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.6).
How much does a house cost in McLean?
The median owner-occupied home in McLean is valued at $140,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $87,321, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $1,400 a month.
What is the weather like in McLean?
July highs average 84.2°F and January lows 15.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.4 inches of precipitation a year and 16.6 inches of snow.
Does McLean get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of McLean since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 5, 1977. 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)