The Town FilesPana, Illinois
City in Christian County · population 5,199 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $77,900
- Household income
- $46,168
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 15 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 39.1
Pana is a city of 5,199 people in Christian County, Illinois. The median home is worth $77,900, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for a vacation home than 97% of Illinois towns, hipper than 88% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 85% of Illinois towns.
How Pana 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 Pana is worth $77,900, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $46,168, which is more affordable than 79% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $684 a month. 65.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pana | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $77,900 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $684 | $960 |
| Median household income | $46,168 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 65.0% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.0% | — |
Who lives in Pana
| People | Pana | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.1 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.8% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.3% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 9.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 10.2% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 18.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.9% | 90.4% |
Weather in Pana
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 19.3°F. About 42.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.5 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 34 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 114 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pana since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on February 20, 2014 about 3.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on November 17, 2013.
Severe weather in Christian County since 1996
Christian County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4728: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| February 9, 2007 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1681: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Christian County
Christian County had 9,353 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,042 a year. Unemployment was 5.1% in 2023; in Pana itself the ACS puts it at 6.4%.
Public schools in Pana
4 public schools with 1,151 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pana Sr High School | 9-12 | 383 | 13.7 |
| Washington Elem School | PK-2 | 295 | 16.4 |
| Pana Jr High School | 6-8 | 257 | 12.2 |
| Lincoln Elem School | 3-5 | 216 | 12.0 |
Towns near Pana
- Shelbyville, IL15.6 mi · 4,674 people · home $116,400
- Taylorville, IL16.4 mi · 10,506 people · home $104,100
- Hillsboro, IL25.4 mi · 5,902 people · home $111,700
- Vandalia, IL29.0 mi · 7,458 people · home $98,500
- Mount Zion, IL29.1 mi · 6,019 people · home $201,100
- Sullivan, IL29.2 mi · 4,413 people · home $102,500
- Pawnee, IL29.7 mi · 2,678 people · home $149,500
Pana questions
Is Pana, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pana scores better for retirees than 60% of Illinois towns and quieter than 47%. 22.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.1).
How much does a house cost in Pana?
The median owner-occupied home in Pana is valued at $77,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,168, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $684 a month.
What is the weather like in Pana?
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 19.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.3 inches of precipitation a year and 14.5 inches of snow.
Does Pana get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pana since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on February 20, 2014. 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)