The Town FilesPiper City, Illinois
Village in Ford County · population 745 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $80,400
- Household income
- $39,680
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 25 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 46.1
Piper City is a village of 745 people in Ford County, Illinois. The median home is worth $80,400, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks quieter than 98% of Illinois towns, hipper than 86% of Illinois towns, better for retirees than 80% of Illinois towns.
How Piper City 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 Piper City is worth $80,400, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $39,680, which is more affordable than 61% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $768 a month. 70.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Piper City | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $80,400 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $768 | $960 |
| Median household income | $39,680 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 70.8% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1948 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Piper City
| People | Piper City | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.1 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.3% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.1% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.4% | — |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 26.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.4% | 90.4% |
Weather in Piper City
July highs average 87.6°F and January lows 15.6°F. About 44.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 24.7 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Piper City since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 7, 1980 about 7.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 26, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 20, 1981.
Severe weather in Ford County since 1996
Ford 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 |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| May 21, 2002 | Tornado | DR-1416: Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Ford County
Ford County had 5,727 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,831 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Piper City itself the ACS puts it at 15.2%.
Public schools in Piper City
1 public school with 145 students, about 11.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tri-Point Jr High/Elementary | 4-8 | 145 | 11.2 |
Towns near Piper City
- Chatsworth, IL6.3 mi · 1,185 people · home $103,200
- Cullom, IL9.4 mi · 520 people · home $100,800
- Onarga, IL9.7 mi · 1,333 people · home $99,300
- Gilman, IL9.8 mi · 1,738 people · home $120,500
- Forrest, IL11.6 mi · 1,041 people · home $113,000
- Danforth, IL11.9 mi · 594 people · home $151,200
- Ashkum, IL14.9 mi · 750 people · home $150,600
- Fairbury, IL17.1 mi · 3,633 people · home $162,200
Piper City questions
Is Piper City, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Piper City scores better for retirees than 80% of Illinois towns and quieter than 98%. 18.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.1).
How much does a house cost in Piper City?
The median owner-occupied home in Piper City is valued at $80,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $39,680, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $768 a month.
What is the weather like in Piper City?
July highs average 87.6°F and January lows 15.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.4 inches of precipitation a year and 24.7 inches of snow.
Does Piper City get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Piper City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 7, 1980. 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)