The Town FilesPatoka, Illinois
Village in Marion County · population 525 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $89,200
- Household income
- $65,833
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 36.0
Patoka is a village of 525 people in Marion County, Illinois. The median home is worth $89,200, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks easier by car than 98% of Illinois towns, quieter than 89% of Illinois towns, better for retirees than 71% of Illinois towns.
How Patoka 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 Patoka is worth $89,200, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.4 times the median household income of $65,833, which is more affordable than 93% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $831 a month. 80.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Patoka | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $89,200 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $831 | $960 |
| Median household income | $65,833 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 80.8% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.9% | — |
Who lives in Patoka
| People | Patoka | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.0 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.3% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.3% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 2.3% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 26.0 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.4% | 90.4% |
Weather in Patoka
July highs average 87.8°F and January lows 20.8°F. About 45.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.8 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 102 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Patoka since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 30, 2025 about 6.5 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 26 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 3, 1967.
Severe weather in Marion County since 1996
Marion County has been included in 8 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 |
| June 7, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1991: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Marion County
Marion County had 12,409 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,266 a year. Unemployment was 4.9% in 2023; in Patoka itself the ACS puts it at 7.4%.
Public schools in Patoka
3 public schools with 225 students, about 11.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patoka Elem School | PK-5 | 112 | 12.4 |
| Patoka Sr High School | 9-12 | 68 | 9.7 |
| Patoka Jr High School | 6-8 | 45 | 11.3 |
Towns near Patoka
- Odin, IL9.8 mi · 935 people · home $102,600
- Sandoval, IL9.9 mi · 1,157 people · home $59,100
- Salem, IL11.4 mi · 7,282 people · home $106,100
- Junction City, IL12.5 mi · 527 people · home $83,500
- Kinmundy, IL13.1 mi · 733 people · home $95,400
- Central City, IL14.3 mi · 1,098 people · home $47,600
- Mulberry Grove, IL14.8 mi · 520 people · home $88,800
- Vandalia, IL15.3 mi · 7,458 people · home $98,500
Patoka questions
Is Patoka, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Patoka scores better for retirees than 71% of Illinois towns and quieter than 89%. 15.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.0).
How much does a house cost in Patoka?
The median owner-occupied home in Patoka is valued at $89,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,833, so homes cost about 1.4 times income. Median rent is $831 a month.
What is the weather like in Patoka?
July highs average 87.8°F and January lows 20.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.9 inches of precipitation a year and 10.8 inches of snow.
Does Patoka get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Patoka since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 30, 2025. 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)