The Town FilesTilden, Illinois
Village in Randolph County · population 750 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $70,300
- Household income
- $47,857
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 43.3
Tilden is a village of 750 people in Randolph County, Illinois. The median home is worth $70,300, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks easier by car than 78% of Illinois towns, quieter than 77% of Illinois towns, better for retirees than 76% of Illinois towns.
How Tilden 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 Tilden is worth $70,300, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $47,857, which is more affordable than 90% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $743 a month. 69.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tilden | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $70,300 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $743 | $960 |
| Median household income | $47,857 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 69.9% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Tilden
| People | Tilden | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.3 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.5% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 5.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 28.7% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 3.3% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 29.4 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.1% | 90.4% |
Weather in Tilden
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 21.6°F. About 45.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.6 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 35 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 109 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tilden since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on March 8, 2009 about 5.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 5 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 6, 2003.
Severe weather in Randolph County since 1996
Randolph County has been included in 17 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 |
| June 7, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1991: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 2, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1850: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Randolph County
Randolph County had 11,393 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,632 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Tilden itself the ACS puts it at 15%.
Towns near Tilden
- Coulterville, IL4.7 mi · 834 people · home $82,300
- Marissa, IL5.4 mi · 1,833 people · home $99,500
- Sparta, IL5.6 mi · 4,095 people · home $111,200
- St. Libory, IL10.6 mi · 628 people · home $178,800
- New Athens, IL12.7 mi · 1,955 people · home $116,300
- Percy, IL14.1 mi · 906 people · home $77,200
- Steeleville, IL14.1 mi · 1,930 people · home $158,500
- Evansville, IL16.0 mi · 547 people · home $88,200
Tilden questions
Is Tilden, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tilden scores better for retirees than 76% of Illinois towns and quieter than 77%. 20.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.3).
How much does a house cost in Tilden?
The median owner-occupied home in Tilden is valued at $70,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,857, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $743 a month.
What is the weather like in Tilden?
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 21.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.6 inches of precipitation a year and 10.6 inches of snow.
Does Tilden get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tilden since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on March 8, 2009. 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)