The Town FilesMetamora, Illinois
Village in Woodford County · population 3,904 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $201,800
- Household income
- $129,479
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 21 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 43
- Median age
- 35.4
Metamora is a village of 3,904 people in Woodford County, Illinois. The median home is worth $201,800, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for families than 92% of Illinois towns, better for retirees than 90% of Illinois towns, more upscale than 86% of Illinois towns.
- #3 in The 16 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Illinois
- #15 in The 22 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Illinois With Mild Winters
- #19 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Illinois
- #21 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Illinois
- #25 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Illinois
How Metamora 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 Metamora is worth $201,800, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $129,479, which is more affordable than 85% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,008 a month. 96.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Metamora | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $201,800 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,008 | $960 |
| Median household income | $129,479 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 96.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in Metamora
| People | Metamora | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.4 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.7% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 30.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 54.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.6% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 23.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.5% | 90.4% |
Weather in Metamora
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 21.2 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
43 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Metamora since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 15 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on November 17, 2013 about 3.3 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 133 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 78 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 20, 2022.
Severe weather in Woodford County since 1996
Woodford County has been included in 14 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 Woodford County
Woodford County had 11,428 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,993 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Metamora itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Metamora
5 public schools with 1,766 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metamora High School | 9-12 | 919 | 15.3 |
| Metamora Grade School | PK-8 | 847 | 15.7 |
| WCSEA-MTHS-9-12 | Other | — | — |
| WCSEA-MGS | Other | — | — |
| Central IL Voc Ed Coop | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Metamora
- Germantown Hills, IL5.3 mi · 3,412 people · home $264,900
- Washington, IL7.0 mi · 16,071 people · home $221,900
- Eureka, IL7.4 mi · 5,227 people · home $154,300
- Chillicothe, IL10.9 mi · 6,128 people · home $132,900
- Peoria Heights, IL11.1 mi · 5,908 people · home $117,700
- East Peoria, IL12.4 mi · 22,484 people · home $163,500
- Peoria, IL13.4 mi · 113,150 people · home $156,200
- Morton, IL13.5 mi · 17,117 people · home $239,400
Metamora questions
Is Metamora, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Metamora scores better for retirees than 90% of Illinois towns and quieter than 69%. 13.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.4).
How much does a house cost in Metamora?
The median owner-occupied home in Metamora is valued at $201,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $129,479, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $1,008 a month.
What is the weather like in Metamora?
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 21.2 inches of snow.
Does Metamora get tornadoes?
43 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Metamora since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on November 17, 2013. 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)