The Town FilesPalmyra, Illinois
Village in Macoupin County · population 605 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $87,500
- Household income
- $44,276
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 53.4
Palmyra is a village of 605 people in Macoupin County, Illinois. The median home is worth $87,500, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for retirees than 91% of Illinois towns, better for first-time buyers than 91% of Illinois towns, quieter than 83% of Illinois towns.
How Palmyra 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 Palmyra is worth $87,500, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $44,276, which is more affordable than 61% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $718 a month. 79.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Palmyra | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $87,500 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $718 | $960 |
| Median household income | $44,276 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 79.5% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Palmyra
| People | Palmyra | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.4 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 32.7% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 13.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 43.3 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 75.7% | 90.4% |
Weather in Palmyra
July highs average 86.2°F and January lows 19.2°F. About 40.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 16.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 110 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Palmyra since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 19, 2011 about 9.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 18, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on March 3, 1955.
Severe weather in Macoupin County since 1996
Macoupin County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| December 13, 2021 | Tornado | EM-3577: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| October 3, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1800: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| February 9, 2007 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1681: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Macoupin County
Macoupin County had 10,150 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,689 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Palmyra itself the ACS puts it at 11.1%.
Public schools in Palmyra
3 public schools with 320 students, about 9.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern Elem School | PK-6 | 184 | 10.8 |
| Northwestern High School | 9-12 | 84 | 6.5 |
| Northwestern Jr High School | 7-8 | 52 | 13.0 |
Towns near Palmyra
- Waverly, IL11.2 mi · 1,194 people · home $98,400
- Girard, IL11.4 mi · 1,785 people · home $98,100
- Carlinville, IL12.6 mi · 5,710 people · home $105,700
- Greenfield, IL12.9 mi · 1,059 people · home $103,900
- Virden, IL13.0 mi · 3,231 people · home $101,300
- Franklin, IL13.1 mi · 610 people · home $116,400
- Thayer, IL14.6 mi · 632 people · home $97,100
- Auburn, IL16.6 mi · 4,574 people · home $149,600
Palmyra questions
Is Palmyra, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Palmyra scores better for retirees than 91% of Illinois towns and quieter than 83%. 32.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.4).
How much does a house cost in Palmyra?
The median owner-occupied home in Palmyra is valued at $87,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,276, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $718 a month.
What is the weather like in Palmyra?
July highs average 86.2°F and January lows 19.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.0 inches of precipitation a year and 16.9 inches of snow.
Does Palmyra get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Palmyra since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 19, 2011. 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)