The Town FilesThayer, Illinois
Village in Sangamon County · population 632 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $97,100
- Household income
- $62,083
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 16 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 44
- Median age
- 46.4
Thayer is a village of 632 people in Sangamon County, Illinois. The median home is worth $97,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks easier by car than 94% of Illinois towns, more of a college town than 85% of Illinois towns, more upscale than 74% of Illinois towns.
How Thayer 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 Thayer is worth $97,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $62,083, which is more affordable than 85% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $968 a month. 86.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Thayer | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $97,100 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $968 | $960 |
| Median household income | $62,083 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 86.9% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.1% | — |
Who lives in Thayer
| People | Thayer | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.4 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.8% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.3% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.5% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 14.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 4.2% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 30.4 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.3% | 90.4% |
Weather in Thayer
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 20.9°F. About 38.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 16.1 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 25 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 101 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
44 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Thayer since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 19, 2011 about 6.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 70 times; the largest was 3.25 inches on May 7, 2023.
Severe weather in Sangamon County since 1996
Sangamon County has been included in 12 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 |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| February 9, 2007 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1681: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Sangamon County
Sangamon County had 134,376 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $69,350 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Thayer itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Towns near Thayer
- Virden, IL2.5 mi · 3,231 people · home $101,300
- Auburn, IL2.6 mi · 4,574 people · home $149,600
- Divernon, IL5.9 mi · 1,139 people · home $133,700
- Girard, IL6.6 mi · 1,785 people · home $98,100
- Farmersville, IL8.9 mi · 689 people · home $116,900
- Chatham, IL9.9 mi · 14,377 people · home $243,200
- Pawnee, IL9.9 mi · 2,678 people · home $149,500
- Loami, IL10.4 mi · 812 people · home $131,900
Thayer questions
Is Thayer, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Thayer scores better for retirees than 15% of Illinois towns and quieter than 46%. 22.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.4).
How much does a house cost in Thayer?
The median owner-occupied home in Thayer is valued at $97,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,083, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $968 a month.
What is the weather like in Thayer?
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 20.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.4 inches of precipitation a year and 16.1 inches of snow.
Does Thayer get tornadoes?
44 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Thayer since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 19, 2011. 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)