The Town FilesNew Boston, Illinois
City in Mercer County · population 613 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $95,400
- Household income
- $60,662
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 20 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 46.6
New Boston is a city of 613 people in Mercer County, Illinois. The median home is worth $95,400, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks quieter than 89% of Illinois towns.
How New Boston 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 Boston is worth $95,400, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $60,662, which is more affordable than 85% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $484 a month. 82.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | New Boston | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $95,400 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $484 | $960 |
| Median household income | $60,662 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 82.0% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in New Boston
| People | New Boston | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.6 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.1% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.4% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 9.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 4.1% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 37.3 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.0% | 90.4% |
Weather in New Boston
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 15.3°F. About 36.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 20.4 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 25 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 122 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Boston since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 15, 2019 about 7.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 3, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on September 27, 1959.
Severe weather in Mercer County since 1996
Mercer County has been included in 15 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 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 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 Mercer County
Mercer County had 2,968 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,706 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in New Boston itself the ACS puts it at 4.2%.
Public schools in New Boston
1 public school with 164 students, about 7.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Boston Elem School | K-5 | 164 | 7.8 |
Towns near New Boston
- Keithsburg, IL5.9 mi · 550 people · home $65,900
- Wapello, IA9.9 mi · 2,084 people · home $143,900
- Aledo, IL13.3 mi · 3,633 people · home $147,600
- Fruitland, IA13.9 mi · 963 people · home $217,700
- Morning Sun, IA14.1 mi · 752 people · home $102,200
- Mediapolis, IA14.1 mi · 1,688 people · home $179,700
- Oquawka, IL16.3 mi · 1,134 people · home $92,000
- Muscatine, IA17.5 mi · 23,797 people · home $153,600
New Boston questions
Is New Boston, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, New Boston scores better for retirees than 6% of Illinois towns and quieter than 89%. 20.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.6).
How much does a house cost in New Boston?
The median owner-occupied home in New Boston is valued at $95,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,662, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $484 a month.
What is the weather like in New Boston?
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 15.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.3 inches of precipitation a year and 20.4 inches of snow.
Does New Boston get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Boston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 15, 2019. 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)