The Town FilesRidgway, Illinois
Village in Gallatin County · population 851 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $75,000
- Household income
- $46,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 47.2
Ridgway is a village of 851 people in Gallatin County, Illinois. The median home is worth $75,000, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks easier by car than 99% of Illinois towns, quieter than 92% of Illinois towns.
How Ridgway 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 Ridgway is worth $75,000, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $46,000, which is more affordable than 85% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $667 a month. 79.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ridgway | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $75,000 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $667 | $960 |
| Median household income | $46,000 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 79.7% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Ridgway
| People | Ridgway | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.2 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 36.1% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.7% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 4.0% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 25.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 71.1% | 90.4% |
Weather in Ridgway
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 25.5°F. About 48.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.0 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 44 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 80 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ridgway since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on February 29, 2012 about 6.5 miles from the town center and killed 8. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 8 deaths and 110 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 2, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 24, 2002.
Severe weather in Gallatin County since 1996
Gallatin County has been included in 11 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 |
| June 7, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1991: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 2, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1850: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| March 2, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1826: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Gallatin County
Gallatin County had 874 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,088 a year. Unemployment was 5.4% in 2023; in Ridgway itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Towns near Ridgway
- Equality, IL6.1 mi · 539 people · home $82,900
- Shawneetown, IL7.0 mi · 1,054 people · home $85,700
- Eldorado, IL9.9 mi · 3,743 people · home $66,200
- Norris City, IL13.0 mi · 1,145 people · home $86,700
- Harrisburg, IL16.1 mi · 8,219 people · home $84,100
- Uniontown, KY18.0 mi · 929 people · home $61,900
- Galatia, IL19.7 mi · 827 people · home $70,200
- Carmi, IL20.5 mi · 4,865 people · home $114,800
Ridgway questions
Is Ridgway, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ridgway scores better for retirees than 38% of Illinois towns and quieter than 92%. 36.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.2).
How much does a house cost in Ridgway?
The median owner-occupied home in Ridgway is valued at $75,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,000, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $667 a month.
What is the weather like in Ridgway?
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 25.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.2 inches of precipitation a year and 8.0 inches of snow.
Does Ridgway get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ridgway since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on February 29, 2012. 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)