The Town FilesPalestine, Illinois
Village in Crawford County · population 1,233 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $81,300
- Household income
- $62,850
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 45.6
Palestine is a village of 1,233 people in Crawford County, Illinois. The median home is worth $81,300, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks easier by car than 83% of Illinois towns.
How Palestine 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 Palestine is worth $81,300, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.3 times the median household income of $62,850, which is more affordable than 96% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $719 a month. 83.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Palestine | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $81,300 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $719 | $960 |
| Median household income | $62,850 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 83.2% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Palestine
| People | Palestine | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.6 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.1% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 9.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 2.9% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 24.8 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.6% | 90.4% |
Weather in Palestine
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 22.8°F. About 46.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.6 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 38 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 101 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Palestine since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on March 31, 2023 about 1.2 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 20 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 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 Palestine itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Palestine
2 public schools with 345 students, about 11.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palestine Grade School | PK-8 | 256 | 11.6 |
| Palestine High School | 9-12 | 89 | 11.1 |
Towns near Palestine
- Robinson, IL6.5 mi · 7,150 people · home $109,100
- Carlisle, IN11.7 mi · 625 people · home $73,000
- Sullivan, IN12.8 mi · 4,264 people · home $128,100
- Oaktown, IN12.9 mi · 581 people · home $65,200
- Oblong, IL16.0 mi · 1,371 people · home $83,100
- Shelburn, IN16.9 mi · 1,107 people · home $73,700
- Freelandville, IN18.8 mi · 617 people · home $92,000
- Lawrenceville, IL19.4 mi · 4,164 people · home $71,300
Palestine questions
Is Palestine, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Palestine scores better for retirees than 49% of Illinois towns and quieter than 66%. 19.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.6).
How much does a house cost in Palestine?
The median owner-occupied home in Palestine is valued at $81,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,850, so homes cost about 1.3 times income. Median rent is $719 a month.
What is the weather like in Palestine?
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 22.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.3 inches of precipitation a year and 11.6 inches of snow.
Does Palestine get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Palestine since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on March 31, 2023. 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)