The Town FilesViola, Illinois
Village in Mercer County · population 869 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $120,000
- Household income
- $72,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 22 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 39
- Median age
- 46.6
Viola is a village of 869 people in Mercer County, Illinois. The median home is worth $120,000, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks quieter than 97% of Illinois towns, better for retirees than 84% of Illinois towns, better for families than 81% of Illinois towns.
How Viola 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 Viola is worth $120,000, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $72,500, which is more affordable than 79% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $705 a month. 91.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Viola | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $120,000 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $705 | $960 |
| Median household income | $72,500 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 91.8% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Viola
| People | Viola | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.6 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.1% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.3% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 11.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.8% | — |
| Work from home | 11.0% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 26.4 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.3% | 90.4% |
Weather in Viola
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 13.3°F. About 39.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.8 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 138 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
39 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Viola since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on August 15, 1978 about 9.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 14, 1974.
Severe weather in Mercer County since 1996
Mercer County has been included in 15 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 |
| 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 Mercer County
Mercer County had 2,968 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,706 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Viola itself the ACS puts it at 8.2%.
Public schools in Viola
1 public school with 255 students, about 14.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winola Elementary School | PK-4 | 255 | 14.2 |
Towns near Viola
- Matherville, IL3.9 mi · 707 people · home $134,800
- Windsor, IL7.4 mi · 668 people · home $109,800
- Aledo, IL8.3 mi · 3,633 people · home $147,600
- Sherrard, IL8.8 mi · 692 people · home $150,200
- Alexis, IL10.0 mi · 793 people · home $97,600
- Alpha, IL10.7 mi · 675 people · home $111,400
- Coyne Center, IL13.6 mi · 877 people · home $221,400
- Woodhull, IL13.9 mi · 754 people · home $122,400
Viola questions
Is Viola, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Viola scores better for retirees than 84% of Illinois towns and quieter than 97%. 20.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.6).
How much does a house cost in Viola?
The median owner-occupied home in Viola is valued at $120,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,500, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $705 a month.
What is the weather like in Viola?
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 13.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.1 inches of precipitation a year and 21.8 inches of snow.
Does Viola get tornadoes?
39 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Viola since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on August 15, 1978. 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)