The Town FilesOblong, Illinois
Village in Crawford County · population 1,371 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $83,100
- Household income
- $57,917
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 38.7
Oblong is a village of 1,371 people in Crawford County, Illinois. The median home is worth $83,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks easier by car than 94% of Illinois towns.
How Oblong 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 Oblong is worth $83,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.4 times the median household income of $57,917, which is more affordable than 93% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $542 a month. 71.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Oblong | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $83,100 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $542 | $960 |
| Median household income | $57,917 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 71.8% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Oblong
| People | Oblong | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.7 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.2% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.3% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.9% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.1% | — |
| Work from home | 0.4% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 16.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.1% | 90.4% |
Weather in Oblong
July highs average 87.4°F and January lows 20.1°F. About 45.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.2 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 39 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 114 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oblong since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 2, 1990 about 6.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 19 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 16, 2025.
Severe weather in Crawford County since 1996
Crawford County has been included in 9 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 |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| June 24, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1771: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Crawford County
Crawford County had 7,487 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,683 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Oblong itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in Oblong
2 public schools with 538 students, about 11.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oblong Elem School | PK-8 | 373 | 11.7 |
| Oblong High School | 9-12 | 165 | 9.7 |
Towns near Oblong
- Robinson, IL9.5 mi · 7,150 people · home $109,100
- Newton, IL13.7 mi · 2,777 people · home $95,400
- Palestine, IL16.0 mi · 1,233 people · home $81,300
- Sumner, IL20.0 mi · 2,631 people · home $46,000
- Olney, IL21.1 mi · 8,701 people · home $99,800
- Casey, IL21.3 mi · 2,404 people · home $91,800
- Greenup, IL21.6 mi · 1,365 people · home $91,900
- Bridgeport, IL21.8 mi · 1,800 people · home $72,100
Oblong questions
Is Oblong, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Oblong scores better for retirees than 56% of Illinois towns and quieter than 66%. 22.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.7).
How much does a house cost in Oblong?
The median owner-occupied home in Oblong is valued at $83,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,917, so homes cost about 1.4 times income. Median rent is $542 a month.
What is the weather like in Oblong?
July highs average 87.4°F and January lows 20.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.5 inches of precipitation a year and 14.2 inches of snow.
Does Oblong get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oblong since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 2, 1990. 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)