The Town FilesSouth Jacksonville, Illinois
Village in Morgan County · population 3,302 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $135,800
- Household income
- $49,587
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 16 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 48.7
South Jacksonville is a village of 3,302 people in Morgan County, Illinois. The median home is worth $135,800, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of Illinois towns, more of a college town than 92% of Illinois towns.
How South Jacksonville 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 South Jacksonville is worth $135,800, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $49,587, which is more affordable than 31% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $647 a month. 68.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Jacksonville | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $135,800 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $647 | $960 |
| Median household income | $49,587 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 68.7% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in South Jacksonville
| People | South Jacksonville | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.7 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.0% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.3% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 9.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 8.7% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 14.3 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.0% | 90.4% |
Weather in South Jacksonville
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 17.6°F. About 41.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 16.2 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 35 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 122 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Jacksonville since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 24, 1961 about 6.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 18, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 47 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 10, 2017.
Severe weather in Morgan County since 1996
Morgan County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4728: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 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 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Morgan County
Morgan County had 13,936 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,188 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in South Jacksonville itself the ACS puts it at 15.8%.
Public schools in South Jacksonville
1 public school with 299 students, about 15.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Jacksonville Elem School | K-5 | 299 | 15.7 |
Towns near South Jacksonville
- Jacksonville, IL2.1 mi · 17,616 people · home $128,200
- Beardstown, IL24.1 mi · 5,951 people · home $82,100
- Auburn, IL26.9 mi · 4,574 people · home $149,600
- Virden, IL27.6 mi · 3,231 people · home $101,300
- Chatham, IL28.3 mi · 14,377 people · home $243,200
South Jacksonville questions
Is South Jacksonville, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Jacksonville scores better for retirees than 99% of Illinois towns and quieter than 38%. 30.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.7).
How much does a house cost in South Jacksonville?
The median owner-occupied home in South Jacksonville is valued at $135,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,587, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $647 a month.
What is the weather like in South Jacksonville?
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 17.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.4 inches of precipitation a year and 16.2 inches of snow.
Does South Jacksonville get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Jacksonville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 24, 1961. 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)