The Town FilesNew Athens, Illinois
Village in St. Clair County · population 1,955 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $116,300
- Household income
- $56,553
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 41.4
New Athens is a village of 1,955 people in St. Clair County, Illinois. The median home is worth $116,300, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for families than 94% of Illinois towns, better for retirees than 80% of Illinois towns, easier by car than 80% of Illinois towns.
How New Athens 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 New Athens is worth $116,300, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $56,553, which is more affordable than 55% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $993 a month. 82.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | New Athens | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $116,300 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $993 | $960 |
| Median household income | $56,553 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 82.2% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.4% | — |
Who lives in New Athens
| People | New Athens | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.4 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.2% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.5% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 3.3% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 31.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.3% | 90.4% |
Weather in New Athens
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 24.3°F. About 43.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.6 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 53 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 94 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Athens since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 18, 1975 about 8.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 71 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 15, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 54 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 15, 1998.
Severe weather in St. Clair County since 1996
St. Clair County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 20, 2024 | Flood | DR-4819: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Floodng |
| October 14, 2022 | Flood | DR-4676: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in St. Clair County
St. Clair County had 89,981 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,001 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in New Athens itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Public schools in New Athens
3 public schools with 499 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Athens Elem | PK-5 | 245 | 18.8 |
| New Athens High School | 9-12 | 161 | 12.4 |
| New Athens Jr High | 6-8 | 93 | 15.5 |
Towns near New Athens
- Marissa, IL7.3 mi · 1,833 people · home $99,500
- Freeburg, IL8.6 mi · 4,582 people · home $241,200
- St. Libory, IL9.0 mi · 628 people · home $178,800
- Smithton, IL9.1 mi · 4,006 people · home $256,300
- Red Bud, IL10.4 mi · 3,804 people · home $171,000
- Tilden, IL12.7 mi · 750 people · home $70,300
- Mascoutah, IL14.3 mi · 8,754 people · home $224,900
- Sparta, IL14.6 mi · 4,095 people · home $111,200
New Athens questions
Is New Athens, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, New Athens scores better for retirees than 80% of Illinois towns and quieter than 79%. 22.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.4).
How much does a house cost in New Athens?
The median owner-occupied home in New Athens is valued at $116,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,553, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $993 a month.
What is the weather like in New Athens?
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 24.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.4 inches of precipitation a year and 11.6 inches of snow.
Does New Athens get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Athens since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 18, 1975. 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)