The Town FilesRed Bud, Illinois
City in Randolph County · population 3,804 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $171,000
- Household income
- $71,850
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 39.7
Red Bud is a city of 3,804 people in Randolph County, Illinois. The median home is worth $171,000, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for retirees than 88% of Illinois towns.
How Red Bud 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 Red Bud is worth $171,000, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $71,850, which is more affordable than 42% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $845 a month. 76.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Red Bud | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $171,000 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $845 | $960 |
| Median household income | $71,850 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 76.7% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Red Bud
| People | Red Bud | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.7 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.1% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.1% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.9% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 8.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 9.5% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 22.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.8% | 90.4% |
Weather in Red Bud
July highs average 89.1°F and January lows 24.0°F. About 42.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.2 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 58 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 99 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Red Bud since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 18, 1975 about 2.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 10 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 15, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 52 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 14, 2024.
Severe weather in Randolph County since 1996
Randolph County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| June 7, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1991: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 2, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1850: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Randolph County
Randolph County had 11,393 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,632 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Red Bud itself the ACS puts it at 2.3%.
Public schools in Red Bud
6 public schools with 1,028 students, about 11.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Bud Elem School | PK-8 | 612 | 13.9 |
| Red Bud High School | 9-12 | 416 | 15.4 |
| Perandoe Educational Program | Other | — | — |
| CCSI Alternative School | 9-12 | — | — |
| Career Center of Southern IL | 10-12 | — | — |
| Monroe/Randolph Red Brick Sch | 6-12 | — | — |
Towns near Red Bud
- Waterloo, IL12.3 mi · 11,013 people · home $249,500
- Smithton, IL14.3 mi · 4,006 people · home $256,300
- Sparta, IL15.5 mi · 4,095 people · home $111,200
- Ste. Genevieve, MO16.3 mi · 4,999 people · home $172,400
- Freeburg, IL16.7 mi · 4,582 people · home $241,200
- Millstadt, IL17.9 mi · 4,071 people · home $230,500
- Crystal City, MO20.6 mi · 4,740 people · home $185,800
- Columbia, IL20.8 mi · 10,999 people · home $293,000
Red Bud questions
Is Red Bud, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Red Bud scores better for retirees than 88% of Illinois towns and quieter than 56%. 21.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.7).
How much does a house cost in Red Bud?
The median owner-occupied home in Red Bud is valued at $171,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,850, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $845 a month.
What is the weather like in Red Bud?
July highs average 89.1°F and January lows 24.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.8 inches of precipitation a year and 10.2 inches of snow.
Does Red Bud get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Red Bud since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 18, 1975. 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)