The Town FilesVandalia, Illinois
City in Fayette County · population 7,458 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $98,500
- Household income
- $45,469
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 43.9
Vandalia is a city of 7,458 people in Fayette County, Illinois. The median home is worth $98,500, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks hipper than 95% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 81% of Illinois towns, more vibrant than 73% of Illinois towns.
How Vandalia 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 Vandalia is worth $98,500, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $45,469, which is more affordable than 50% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $778 a month. 66.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Vandalia | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $98,500 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $778 | $960 |
| Median household income | $45,469 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 66.5% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Vandalia
| People | Vandalia | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.9 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.4% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 14.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.2% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 19.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.1% | 90.4% |
Weather in Vandalia
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 20.7°F. About 43.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.4 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 31 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 109 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Vandalia since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 5, 1958 about 1.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 25, 1989.
Severe weather in Fayette County since 1996
Fayette County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| November 26, 2013 | Tornado | DR-4157: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Fayette County
Fayette County had 5,030 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,171 a year. Unemployment was 4.9% in 2023; in Vandalia itself the ACS puts it at 6%.
Public schools in Vandalia
6 public schools with 1,460 students, about 12.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vandalia Elementary School | PK-3 | 558 | 16.9 |
| Vandalia Junior High School | 4-8 | 522 | 13.1 |
| Vandalia Community High School | 9-12 | 380 | 9.3 |
| FOCUS Safe Sch Program | 6-9 | — | — |
| New Approach Alternative H S | 9-12 | — | — |
| Okaw Area Vocational Center | 11-12 | — | — |
Towns near Vandalia
- Greenville, IL16.2 mi · 7,083 people · home $122,000
- Hillsboro, IL23.9 mi · 5,902 people · home $111,700
- Salem, IL25.3 mi · 7,282 people · home $106,100
- Carlyle, IL28.2 mi · 3,253 people · home $155,000
- Pana, IL29.0 mi · 5,199 people · home $77,900
Vandalia questions
Is Vandalia, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Vandalia scores better for retirees than 45% of Illinois towns and quieter than 44%. 18.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.9).
How much does a house cost in Vandalia?
The median owner-occupied home in Vandalia is valued at $98,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $45,469, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $778 a month.
What is the weather like in Vandalia?
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 20.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.7 inches of precipitation a year and 13.4 inches of snow.
Does Vandalia get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Vandalia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 5, 1958. 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)