The Town FilesSherrard, Illinois
Village in Mercer County · population 692 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $150,200
- Household income
- $98,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 30 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 44
- Median age
- 42.9
Sherrard is a village of 692 people in Mercer County, Illinois. The median home is worth $150,200, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks quieter than 92% of Illinois towns, easier by car than 87% of Illinois towns, better for families than 79% of Illinois towns.
How Sherrard 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 Sherrard is worth $150,200, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $98,750, which is more affordable than 90% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $850 a month. 92.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sherrard | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $150,200 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $850 | $960 |
| Median household income | $98,750 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 92.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Sherrard
| People | Sherrard | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.2% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.3% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 9.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 10.4% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 26.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.8% | 90.4% |
Weather in Sherrard
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 14.8°F. About 38.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 29.8 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 129 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
44 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sherrard since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 13 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on August 15, 1978 about 9.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 56 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 20, 2023.
Severe weather in Mercer County since 1996
Mercer County has been included in 15 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 |
| 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 Mercer County
Mercer County had 2,968 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,706 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Sherrard itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Public schools in Sherrard
3 public schools with 898 students, about 14.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sherrard High School | 9-12 | 456 | 13.8 |
| Sherrard Elementary School | K-4 | 236 | 16.9 |
| Sherrard Jr High School | 7-8 | 206 | 13.7 |
Towns near Sherrard
- Orion, IL6.8 mi · 1,754 people · home $178,500
- Matherville, IL6.8 mi · 707 people · home $134,800
- Coyne Center, IL6.9 mi · 877 people · home $221,400
- Windsor, IL8.2 mi · 668 people · home $109,800
- Viola, IL8.8 mi · 869 people · home $120,000
- Milan, IL9.0 mi · 5,097 people · home $119,300
- Coal Valley, IL9.1 mi · 3,873 people · home $215,700
- Alpha, IL10.4 mi · 675 people · home $111,400
Sherrard questions
Is Sherrard, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sherrard scores better for retirees than 42% of Illinois towns and quieter than 92%. 15.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.9).
How much does a house cost in Sherrard?
The median owner-occupied home in Sherrard is valued at $150,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $98,750, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $850 a month.
What is the weather like in Sherrard?
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 14.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.3 inches of precipitation a year and 29.8 inches of snow.
Does Sherrard get tornadoes?
44 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sherrard since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on August 15, 1978. 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)