The Town FilesMount Olive, Illinois
City in Macoupin County · population 2,015 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $94,100
- Household income
- $55,625
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 50.4
Mount Olive is a city of 2,015 people in Macoupin County, Illinois. The median home is worth $94,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks hipper than 92% of Illinois towns, easier by car than 89% of Illinois towns.
How Mount Olive 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 Mount Olive is worth $94,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $55,625, which is more affordable than 79% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $734 a month. 72.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mount Olive | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $94,100 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $734 | $960 |
| Median household income | $55,625 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 72.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1950 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Mount Olive
| People | Mount Olive | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.4 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.5% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 14.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.8% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 13.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 3.9% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 25.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.4% | 90.4% |
Weather in Mount Olive
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 21.4°F. About 42.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 42 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 100 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mount Olive since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on December 1, 2018 about 7.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 7 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 15, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 65 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 25, 1989.
Severe weather in Macoupin County since 1996
Macoupin County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| December 13, 2021 | Tornado | EM-3577: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| October 3, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1800: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| February 9, 2007 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1681: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Macoupin County
Macoupin County had 10,150 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,689 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Mount Olive itself the ACS puts it at 7.9%.
Public schools in Mount Olive
2 public schools with 478 students, about 10.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mt Olive Elementary School | PK-8 | 344 | 11.1 |
| Mt Olive High School | 9-12 | 134 | 10.3 |
Towns near Mount Olive
- Benld, IL4.2 mi · 1,464 people · home $82,400
- Staunton, IL5.4 mi · 5,054 people · home $143,500
- Gillespie, IL6.0 mi · 3,168 people · home $91,000
- Wilsonville, IL6.8 mi · 536 people · home $85,000
- Livingston, IL7.4 mi · 763 people · home $110,300
- Litchfield, IL7.9 mi · 6,605 people · home $104,200
- Worden, IL11.5 mi · 1,096 people · home $146,600
- Bunker Hill, IL12.2 mi · 1,630 people · home $137,500
Mount Olive questions
Is Mount Olive, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mount Olive scores better for retirees than 62% of Illinois towns and quieter than 60%. 28.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.4).
How much does a house cost in Mount Olive?
The median owner-occupied home in Mount Olive is valued at $94,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,625, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $734 a month.
What is the weather like in Mount Olive?
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 21.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.1 inches of precipitation a year and 13.9 inches of snow.
Does Mount Olive get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mount Olive since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on December 1, 2018. 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)