The Town FilesTonica, Illinois
Village in LaSalle County · population 749 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $126,300
- Household income
- $90,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 25 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 39.5
Tonica is a village of 749 people in LaSalle County, Illinois. The median home is worth $126,300, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for cycling than 87% of Illinois towns, easier by car than 85% of Illinois towns, quieter than 82% of Illinois towns.
How Tonica 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 Tonica is worth $126,300, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.4 times the median household income of $90,000, which is more affordable than 93% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $855 a month. 84.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tonica | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $126,300 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $855 | $960 |
| Median household income | $90,000 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 84.3% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1947 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Tonica
| People | Tonica | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.8% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.9% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 8.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 13.5% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 23.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.2% | 90.4% |
Weather in Tonica
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 14.0°F. About 38.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 25.2 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 139 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tonica since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 13 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on February 28, 2017 about 9.7 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 11 deaths and 44 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on February 8, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 47 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 15, 1992.
Severe weather in LaSalle County since 1996
LaSalle County has been included in 20 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 |
| November 26, 2013 | Tornado | DR-4157: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 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 LaSalle County
LaSalle County had 39,242 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,537 a year. Unemployment was 5.8% in 2023; in Tonica itself the ACS puts it at 5.1%.
Public schools in Tonica
1 public school with 123 students, about 9.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonica Grade School | PK-8 | 123 | 9.5 |
Towns near Tonica
- Oglesby, IL5.3 mi · 3,712 people · home $139,700
- LaSalle, IL8.4 mi · 9,582 people · home $113,500
- Granville, IL9.0 mi · 1,359 people · home $142,500
- Spring Valley, IL9.5 mi · 5,582 people · home $153,300
- North Utica, IL9.9 mi · 1,323 people · home $237,500
- Mark, IL10.1 mi · 519 people · home $161,600
- Peru, IL10.5 mi · 9,896 people · home $154,300
- Dalzell, IL11.1 mi · 663 people · home $161,700
Tonica questions
Is Tonica, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tonica scores better for retirees than 67% of Illinois towns and quieter than 82%. 18.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.5).
How much does a house cost in Tonica?
The median owner-occupied home in Tonica is valued at $126,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $90,000, so homes cost about 1.4 times income. Median rent is $855 a month.
What is the weather like in Tonica?
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 14.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.0 inches of precipitation a year and 25.2 inches of snow.
Does Tonica get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tonica since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on February 28, 2017. 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)