The Town FilesNew Baden, Illinois
Village in Clinton County · population 3,428 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $172,200
- Household income
- $81,393
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 37
- Median age
- 38.5
New Baden is a village of 3,428 people in Clinton County, Illinois. The median home is worth $172,200, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for retirees than 85% of Illinois towns, better for young professionals than 75% of Illinois towns, more upscale than 72% of Illinois towns.
- #10 in The 12 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in Illinois
- #12 in 25 Small Towns in Illinois With the Mildest Winters
- #13 in The 22 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Illinois With Mild Winters
- #16 in The 16 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Illinois
- #21 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Illinois
How New Baden 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 Baden is worth $172,200, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $81,393, which is more affordable than 55% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,133 a month. 58.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | New Baden | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $172,200 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,133 | $960 |
| Median household income | $81,393 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 58.4% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in New Baden
| People | New Baden | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.9% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.1% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.4% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 22.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.3% | — |
| Work from home | 14.1% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 21.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.3% | 90.4% |
Weather in New Baden
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 10.1 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
37 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Baden since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on February 25, 1956 about 5.5 miles from the town center and killed 6. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 9 deaths and 48 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 69 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 28, 2012.
Severe weather in Clinton County since 1996
Clinton County has been included in 7 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 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| May 21, 2002 | Tornado | DR-1416: Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
| December 13, 1982 | Severe Storm | DR-674: Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Clinton County
Clinton County had 12,592 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,189 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in New Baden itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Public schools in New Baden
1 public school with 266 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Baden Elementary School | PK-3 | 266 | 14.8 |
Towns near New Baden
- Trenton, IL5.1 mi · 2,690 people · home $178,200
- Mascoutah, IL5.2 mi · 8,754 people · home $224,900
- Lebanon, IL7.1 mi · 4,691 people · home $170,700
- Scott AFB, IL7.8 mi · 3,688 people · home —
- Breese, IL11.2 mi · 4,641 people · home $229,600
- Shiloh, IL11.3 mi · 14,098 people · home $274,000
- O'Fallon, IL12.1 mi · 32,289 people · home $295,700
- Freeburg, IL13.2 mi · 4,582 people · home $241,200
New Baden questions
Is New Baden, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, New Baden scores better for retirees than 85% of Illinois towns and quieter than 70%. 10.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.5).
How much does a house cost in New Baden?
The median owner-occupied home in New Baden is valued at $172,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $81,393, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $1,133 a month.
What is the weather like in New Baden?
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 10.1 inches of snow.
Does New Baden get tornadoes?
37 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Baden since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on February 25, 1956. 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)