The Town FilesWamac, Illinois
City in Clinton County · population 985 (2020 Census) · spans 3 counties
- Median home
- $20,100
- Household income
- $36,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 46.7
Wamac is a city of 985 people in Clinton County, Illinois. The median home is worth $20,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for cycling than 92% of Illinois towns, better for first-time buyers than 71% of Illinois towns, hipper than 70% of Illinois towns.
- #1 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Illinois
- #1 in 25 Small Towns in Illinois With the Cheapest Homes
- #12 in 50 Small Towns in America With the Cheapest Homes
- #12 in 50 Places in America With the Cheapest Homes
- #18 in The 50 Most Affordable Small Towns in America
- #18 in The 50 Most Affordable Places in America
How Wamac 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 Wamac is worth $20,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 0.6 times the median household income of $36,500, which is more affordable than 100% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $787 a month. 70.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wamac | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $20,100 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $787 | $960 |
| Median household income | $36,500 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 0.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 70.2% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Wamac
| People | Wamac | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.7 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.3% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 0.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.7% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 10.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 1.8% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 21.8 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.0% | 90.4% |
Weather in Wamac
July highs average 87.5°F and January lows 20.9°F. About 44.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.5 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 33 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 Wamac since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on November 17, 2013 about 6.6 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 12 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 24, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 28, 2012.
Severe weather in Clinton County since 1996
Clinton County has been included in 7 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 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| May 21, 2002 | Tornado | DR-1416: Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
| December 13, 1982 | Severe Storm | DR-674: Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Clinton County
Clinton County had 12,592 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,189 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Wamac itself the ACS puts it at 10.7%.
Towns near Wamac
- Centralia, IL2.5 mi · 12,182 people · home $89,600
- Irvington, IL3.7 mi · 581 people · home $91,700
- Central City, IL4.1 mi · 1,098 people · home $47,600
- Junction City, IL6.0 mi · 527 people · home $83,500
- Hoyleton, IL7.4 mi · 520 people · home $100,000
- Sandoval, IL8.5 mi · 1,157 people · home $59,100
- Odin, IL10.0 mi · 935 people · home $102,600
- Woodlawn, IL12.8 mi · 617 people · home $132,700
Wamac questions
Is Wamac, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wamac scores better for retirees than 24% of Illinois towns and quieter than 43%. 13.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.7).
How much does a house cost in Wamac?
The median owner-occupied home in Wamac is valued at $20,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $36,500, so homes cost about 0.6 times income. Median rent is $787 a month.
What is the weather like in Wamac?
July highs average 87.5°F and January lows 20.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.7 inches of precipitation a year and 6.5 inches of snow.
Does Wamac get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wamac since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on November 17, 2013. 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)