The Town FilesPetersburg, Illinois
City in Menard County · population 2,258 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $177,700
- Household income
- $56,458
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 15 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 38.7
Petersburg is a city of 2,258 people in Menard County, Illinois. The median home is worth $177,700, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of Illinois towns, more of a college town than 84% of Illinois towns, better for young professionals than 72% of Illinois towns.
How Petersburg 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 Petersburg is worth $177,700, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $56,458, which is more affordable than 19% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $653 a month. 61.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Petersburg | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $177,700 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $653 | $960 |
| Median household income | $56,458 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 61.0% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Petersburg
| People | Petersburg | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.7 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.3% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.7% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 8.0% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 22.3 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.4% | 90.4% |
Weather in Petersburg
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 17.3°F. About 37.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 15.2 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 121 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Petersburg since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on December 31, 2010 about 1.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 48 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on December 8, 1991.
Severe weather in Menard County since 1996
Menard County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| December 29, 2006 | Snowstorm | EM-3269: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Menard County
Menard County had 1,773 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,242 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Petersburg itself the ACS puts it at 1.4%.
Public schools in Petersburg
3 public schools with 1,048 students, about 12.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Porta High School | 7-12 | 430 | 12.6 |
| Petersburg Elem School | PK-2 | 343 | 14.3 |
| Porta Central | 3-6 | 275 | 11.0 |
Towns near Petersburg
- Lake Petersburg, IL2.1 mi · 740 people · home $338,700
- Greenview, IL7.4 mi · 745 people · home $93,700
- Athens, IL7.5 mi · 1,977 people · home $164,000
- Pleasant Plains, IL10.4 mi · 808 people · home $169,000
- Ashland, IL12.2 mi · 1,218 people · home $98,500
- Mason City, IL15.2 mi · 2,077 people · home $91,100
- Sherman, IL15.4 mi · 4,673 people · home $297,800
- Chandlerville, IL16.3 mi · 527 people · home $68,800
Petersburg questions
Is Petersburg, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Petersburg scores better for retirees than 99% of Illinois towns and quieter than 53%. 18.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.7).
How much does a house cost in Petersburg?
The median owner-occupied home in Petersburg is valued at $177,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,458, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $653 a month.
What is the weather like in Petersburg?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 17.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.6 inches of precipitation a year and 15.2 inches of snow.
Does Petersburg get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Petersburg since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on December 31, 2010. 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)