The Town FilesRamsey, Illinois
Village in Fayette County · population 911 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $65,800
- Household income
- $53,375
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 34.3
Ramsey is a village of 911 people in Fayette County, Illinois. The median home is worth $65,800, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for families than 85% of Illinois towns, quieter than 83% of Illinois towns.
How Ramsey 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 Ramsey is worth $65,800, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.2 times the median household income of $53,375, which is more affordable than 98% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $741 a month. 82.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ramsey | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $65,800 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $741 | $960 |
| Median household income | $53,375 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 82.9% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Ramsey
| People | Ramsey | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.3 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.0% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.4% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.5% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 3.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 3.7% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 34.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.6% | 90.4% |
Weather in Ramsey
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 18.9°F. About 42.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.8 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 28 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 118 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ramsey since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on January 3, 1950 about 6.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 6, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 11, 2010.
Severe weather in Fayette County since 1996
Fayette County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| November 26, 2013 | Tornado | DR-4157: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Fayette County
Fayette County had 5,030 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,171 a year. Unemployment was 4.9% in 2023; in Ramsey itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Ramsey
2 public schools with 403 students, about 11.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsey Elem School | PK-5 | 207 | 11.5 |
| Ramsey High School | 6-12 | 196 | 12.3 |
Towns near Ramsey
- Vandalia, IL11.8 mi · 7,458 people · home $98,500
- Brownstown, IL13.4 mi · 690 people · home $72,900
- Nokomis, IL14.2 mi · 2,142 people · home $83,900
- Witt, IL14.8 mi · 785 people · home $50,700
- Cowden, IL15.2 mi · 515 people · home $77,000
- Coffeen, IL15.5 mi · 647 people · home $60,800
- St. Elmo, IL16.3 mi · 1,254 people · home $82,600
- Pana, IL17.2 mi · 5,199 people · home $77,900
Ramsey questions
Is Ramsey, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ramsey scores better for retirees than 31% of Illinois towns and quieter than 83%. 13.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.3).
How much does a house cost in Ramsey?
The median owner-occupied home in Ramsey is valued at $65,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,375, so homes cost about 1.2 times income. Median rent is $741 a month.
What is the weather like in Ramsey?
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 18.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.5 inches of precipitation a year and 12.8 inches of snow.
Does Ramsey get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ramsey since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on January 3, 1950. 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)