The Town FilesVirginia, Illinois
City in Cass County · population 1,514 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $93,100
- Household income
- $59,375
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 19 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 40.8
Virginia is a city of 1,514 people in Cass County, Illinois. The median home is worth $93,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for retirees than 98% of Illinois towns, hipper than 91% of Illinois towns, better for first-time buyers than 71% of Illinois towns.
How Virginia 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 Virginia is worth $93,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $59,375, which is more affordable than 85% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $700 a month. 65.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Virginia | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $93,100 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $700 | $960 |
| Median household income | $59,375 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 65.3% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Virginia
| People | Virginia | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.8 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.9% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.7% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 3.7% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 23.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.8% | 90.4% |
Weather in Virginia
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 18.1°F. About 39.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 19.3 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 28 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 128 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Virginia since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 18, 2025 about 6.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 18, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on May 5, 1977.
Severe weather in Cass County since 1996
Cass County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Cass County
Cass County had 5,143 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,068 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Virginia itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in Virginia
2 public schools with 332 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Elem School | PK-5 | 187 | 17.0 |
| Virginia Jr/ Sr High School | 6-12 | 145 | 10.4 |
Towns near Virginia
- Chandlerville, IL7.2 mi · 527 people · home $68,800
- Ashland, IL11.6 mi · 1,218 people · home $98,500
- Beardstown, IL12.3 mi · 5,951 people · home $82,100
- Jacksonville, IL15.5 mi · 17,616 people · home $128,200
- Pleasant Plains, IL16.4 mi · 808 people · home $169,000
- South Jacksonville, IL17.5 mi · 3,302 people · home $135,800
- Lake Petersburg, IL18.9 mi · 740 people · home $338,700
- Petersburg, IL19.8 mi · 2,258 people · home $177,700
Virginia questions
Is Virginia, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Virginia scores better for retirees than 98% of Illinois towns and quieter than 68%. 20.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.8).
How much does a house cost in Virginia?
The median owner-occupied home in Virginia is valued at $93,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,375, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $700 a month.
What is the weather like in Virginia?
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 18.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.2 inches of precipitation a year and 19.3 inches of snow.
Does Virginia get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Virginia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 18, 2025. 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)