The Town FilesRoanoke, Illinois
Village in Woodford County · population 1,960 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $139,900
- Household income
- $82,063
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 34
- Median age
- 39.9
Roanoke is a village of 1,960 people in Woodford County, Illinois. The median home is worth $139,900, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks easier by car than 94% of Illinois towns, more of a college town than 91% of Illinois towns, better for cycling than 89% of Illinois towns.
How Roanoke 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 Roanoke is worth $139,900, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $82,063, which is more affordable than 79% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,101 a month. 84.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Roanoke | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $139,900 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,101 | $960 |
| Median household income | $82,063 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 84.3% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Roanoke
| People | Roanoke | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.9 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.7% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.3% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.5% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 3.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 10.3% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 21.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.2% | 90.4% |
Weather in Roanoke
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 15.2°F. About 37.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 135 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Roanoke since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on November 17, 2013 about 8.8 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 133 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 15, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 54 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on March 31, 2023.
Severe weather in Woodford County since 1996
Woodford County has been included in 14 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 |
| November 26, 2013 | Tornado | DR-4157: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Woodford County
Woodford County had 11,428 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,993 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Roanoke itself the ACS puts it at 0.9%.
Public schools in Roanoke
3 public schools with 310 students, about 10.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sowers Elementary School | K-4 | 167 | 12.8 |
| Roanoke-Benson High School | 9-12 | 143 | 8.9 |
| WCSEA-Sowers-K-4 | Other | — | — |
Towns near Roanoke
- Eureka, IL7.1 mi · 5,227 people · home $154,300
- Metamora, IL8.7 mi · 3,904 people · home $201,800
- Washburn, IL9.7 mi · 1,032 people · home $89,100
- El Paso, IL10.4 mi · 2,756 people · home $159,400
- Minonk, IL11.5 mi · 1,928 people · home $120,500
- Goodfield, IL12.0 mi · 936 people · home $246,400
- Deer Creek, IL13.5 mi · 667 people · home $148,900
- Washington, IL13.7 mi · 16,071 people · home $221,900
Roanoke questions
Is Roanoke, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Roanoke scores better for retirees than 85% of Illinois towns and quieter than 48%. 21.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.9).
How much does a house cost in Roanoke?
The median owner-occupied home in Roanoke is valued at $139,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $82,063, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $1,101 a month.
What is the weather like in Roanoke?
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 15.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.6 inches of precipitation a year and 27.9 inches of snow.
Does Roanoke get tornadoes?
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Roanoke since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on November 17, 2013. 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)