The Town FilesSwansea, Illinois
Village in St. Clair County · population 14,386 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $223,600
- Household income
- $91,587
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 38
- Median age
- 42.3
Swansea is a village of 14,386 people in St. Clair County, Illinois. The median home is worth $223,600, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 95% of Illinois towns, better for young professionals than 86% of Illinois towns, more vibrant than 81% of Illinois towns.
How Swansea 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 Swansea is worth $223,600, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $91,587, which is more affordable than 42% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,137 a month. 73.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Swansea | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $223,600 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,137 | $960 |
| Median household income | $91,587 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 73.4% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Swansea
| People | Swansea | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.3% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.7% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 10.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.2% | — |
| Work from home | 15.2% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 24.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.0% | 90.4% |
Weather in Swansea
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 24.3°F. About 43.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.2 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 53 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 94 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
38 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Swansea since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 14 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on February 25, 1956 about 0.5 miles from the town center and killed 6. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 58 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 152 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on April 28, 2012.
Severe weather in St. Clair County since 1996
St. Clair County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 20, 2024 | Flood | DR-4819: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Floodng |
| October 14, 2022 | Flood | DR-4676: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| 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 St. Clair County
St. Clair County had 89,981 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,001 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Swansea itself the ACS puts it at 5.7%.
Public schools in Swansea
3 public schools with 1,121 students, about 12.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wolf Branch Elem School | PK-4 | 452 | 14.6 |
| Wolf Branch Middle School | 5-8 | 343 | 13.7 |
| High Mount Elem School | PK-8 | 326 | 10.5 |
Towns near Swansea
- Belleville, IL2.5 mi · 42,404 people · home $141,300
- Fairview Heights, IL3.2 mi · 16,706 people · home $177,700
- Shiloh, IL3.9 mi · 14,098 people · home $274,000
- O'Fallon, IL5.1 mi · 32,289 people · home $295,700
- Caseyville, IL5.9 mi · 4,400 people · home $96,800
- Scott AFB, IL7.3 mi · 3,688 people · home —
- Washington Park, IL7.8 mi · 2,592 people · home $37,500
- Millstadt, IL8.4 mi · 4,071 people · home $230,500
Swansea questions
Is Swansea, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Swansea scores better for retirees than 56% of Illinois towns and quieter than 25%. 18.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.3).
How much does a house cost in Swansea?
The median owner-occupied home in Swansea is valued at $223,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $91,587, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $1,137 a month.
What is the weather like in Swansea?
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 24.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.4 inches of precipitation a year and 11.2 inches of snow.
Does Swansea get tornadoes?
38 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Swansea since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on February 25, 1956. 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)