The Town FilesOnarga, Illinois
Village in Iroquois County · population 1,333 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $99,300
- Household income
- $78,352
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 42.3
Onarga is a village of 1,333 people in Iroquois County, Illinois. The median home is worth $99,300, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks quieter than 84% of Illinois towns, better for families than 70% of Illinois towns.
How Onarga 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 Onarga is worth $99,300, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.3 times the median household income of $78,352, which is more affordable than 96% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $941 a month. 88.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Onarga | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $99,300 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $941 | $960 |
| Median household income | $78,352 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 88.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1953 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Onarga
| People | Onarga | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.7% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.6% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 2.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 33.8% | — |
| Work from home | 2.3% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 18.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.3% | 90.4% |
Weather in Onarga
July highs average 87.6°F and January lows 15.6°F. About 44.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Onarga since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 6, 1956 about 4.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 20, 1981.
Severe weather in Iroquois County since 1996
Iroquois County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| March 7, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1747: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| May 21, 2002 | Tornado | DR-1416: Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Iroquois County
Iroquois County had 7,372 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,100 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Onarga itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in Onarga
1 public school with 217 students, about 13.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iroquois West Middle School | 6-8 | 217 | 13.6 |
Towns near Onarga
- Gilman, IL3.4 mi · 1,738 people · home $120,500
- Danforth, IL7.6 mi · 594 people · home $151,200
- Crescent City, IL9.0 mi · 552 people · home $116,500
- Piper City, IL9.7 mi · 745 people · home $80,400
- Ashkum, IL11.7 mi · 750 people · home $150,600
- Cissna Park, IL12.0 mi · 817 people · home $130,300
- Chatsworth, IL15.1 mi · 1,185 people · home $103,200
- Watseka, IL15.3 mi · 4,679 people · home $103,700
Onarga questions
Is Onarga, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Onarga scores better for retirees than 46% of Illinois towns and quieter than 84%. 18.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.3).
How much does a house cost in Onarga?
The median owner-occupied home in Onarga is valued at $99,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $78,352, so homes cost about 1.3 times income. Median rent is $941 a month.
What is the weather like in Onarga?
July highs average 87.6°F and January lows 15.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.4 inches of precipitation a year and 23.9 inches of snow.
Does Onarga get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Onarga since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 6, 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)