The Town FilesOquawka, Illinois
Village in Henderson County · population 1,134 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $92,000
- Household income
- $53,929
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 49.8
Oquawka is a village of 1,134 people in Henderson County, Illinois. The median home is worth $92,000, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks quieter than 100% of Illinois towns, better for retirees than 88% of Illinois towns, better for first-time buyers than 88% of Illinois towns.
How Oquawka 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 Oquawka is worth $92,000, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $53,929, which is more affordable than 79% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $445 a month. 85.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Oquawka | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $92,000 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $445 | $960 |
| Median household income | $53,929 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 85.8% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.4% | — |
Who lives in Oquawka
| People | Oquawka | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.8 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.6% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.4% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.9% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 1.7% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 29.0 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 69.8% | 90.4% |
Weather in Oquawka
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 15.9°F. About 37.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 16.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 122 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oquawka since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 15, 2019 about 9.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 15, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 8, 2003.
Severe weather in Henderson County since 1996
Henderson County has been included in 16 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 Henderson County
Henderson County had 1,150 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $37,040 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Oquawka itself the ACS puts it at 14.3%.
Towns near Oquawka
- Keithsburg, IL11.2 mi · 550 people · home $65,900
- Kirkwood, IL11.6 mi · 678 people · home $89,100
- Mediapolis, IA12.2 mi · 1,688 people · home $179,700
- Burlington, IA12.8 mi · 23,982 people · home $114,300
- Stronghurst, IL13.4 mi · 833 people · home $124,600
- West Burlington, IA14.3 mi · 3,197 people · home $124,000
- Beaverdale, IA14.6 mi · 880 people · home $170,900
- Monmouth, IL16.1 mi · 8,902 people · home $86,800
Oquawka questions
Is Oquawka, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Oquawka scores better for retirees than 88% of Illinois towns and quieter than 100%. 30.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.8).
How much does a house cost in Oquawka?
The median owner-occupied home in Oquawka is valued at $92,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,929, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $445 a month.
What is the weather like in Oquawka?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 15.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.2 inches of precipitation a year and 16.9 inches of snow.
Does Oquawka get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oquawka 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)