The Town FilesMulberry Grove, Illinois
Village in Bond County · population 520 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $88,800
- Household income
- $57,386
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 35.6
Mulberry Grove is a village of 520 people in Bond County, Illinois. The median home is worth $88,800, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks quieter than 99% of Illinois towns, better for cycling than 98% of Illinois towns, better for retirees than 97% of Illinois towns.
- #2 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Illinois
- #7 in The 25 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Illinois With Mild Winters
- #14 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Illinois
- #21 in The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America
- #21 in The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Places to Retire in America
How Mulberry Grove 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 Mulberry Grove is worth $88,800, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $57,386, which is more affordable than 90% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $846 a month. 82.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mulberry Grove | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $88,800 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $846 | $960 |
| Median household income | $57,386 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 82.3% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Mulberry Grove
| People | Mulberry Grove | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.6 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.9% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.1% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.6% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 4.0% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 21.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.9% | 90.4% |
Weather in Mulberry Grove
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 20.7°F. About 43.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 31 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 109 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mulberry Grove since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 5, 1958 about 3.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 39 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 25, 1989.
Severe weather in Bond County since 1996
Bond County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| February 9, 2007 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1681: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Bond County
Bond County had 4,511 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,963 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Mulberry Grove itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Public schools in Mulberry Grove
3 public schools with 343 students, about 11.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mulberry Grove Elem School | PK-5 | 159 | 10.6 |
| Mulberry Grove Sr High School | 9-12 | 115 | 14.4 |
| Mulberry Grove Jr High School | 6-8 | 69 | 11.5 |
Towns near Mulberry Grove
- Greenville, IL7.4 mi · 7,083 people · home $122,000
- Vandalia, IL8.8 mi · 7,458 people · home $98,500
- Coffeen, IL13.2 mi · 647 people · home $60,800
- Patoka, IL14.8 mi · 525 people · home $89,200
- Pocahontas, IL16.4 mi · 697 people · home $96,200
- Brownstown, IL17.1 mi · 690 people · home $72,900
- Ramsey, IL17.3 mi · 911 people · home $65,800
- Taylor Springs, IL19.0 mi · 724 people · home $67,400
Mulberry Grove questions
Is Mulberry Grove, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mulberry Grove scores better for retirees than 97% of Illinois towns and quieter than 99%. 16.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.6).
How much does a house cost in Mulberry Grove?
The median owner-occupied home in Mulberry Grove is valued at $88,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,386, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $846 a month.
What is the weather like in Mulberry Grove?
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 20.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.7 inches of precipitation a year and 11.9 inches of snow.
Does Mulberry Grove get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mulberry Grove since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 5, 1958. 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)