The Town FilesWarsaw, Illinois
City in Hancock County · population 1,510 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $96,100
- Household income
- $58,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 22 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 43.6
Warsaw is a city of 1,510 people in Hancock County, Illinois. The median home is worth $96,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks quieter than 96% of Illinois towns, better for retirees than 95% of Illinois towns, better for first-time buyers than 87% of Illinois towns.
How Warsaw 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 Warsaw is worth $96,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $58,750, which is more affordable than 85% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $838 a month. 80.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Warsaw | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $96,100 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $838 | $960 |
| Median household income | $58,750 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 80.5% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Warsaw
| People | Warsaw | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.6 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.1% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.3% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.8% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.8% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 23.4 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.6% | 90.4% |
Weather in Warsaw
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 16.7°F. About 39.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 22.1 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 26 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 117 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Warsaw since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 8, 1999 about 0.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 57 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 19, 2013.
Severe weather in Hancock County since 1996
Hancock County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4728: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 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 Hancock County
Hancock County had 4,144 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,832 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Warsaw itself the ACS puts it at 14.6%.
Public schools in Warsaw
2 public schools with 382 students, about 10.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warsaw Elem School | PK-9 | 207 | 10.9 |
| Warsaw Sr High School | 9-12 | 175 | 10.9 |
Towns near Warsaw
- Keokuk, IA4.3 mi · 9,900 people · home $104,300
- Hamilton, IL4.5 mi · 2,753 people · home $114,100
- Montrose, IA12.1 mi · 738 people · home $103,500
- Nauvoo, IL13.6 mi · 950 people · home $156,700
- Kahoka, MO16.1 mi · 1,961 people · home $100,000
- Canton, MO16.1 mi · 2,774 people · home $117,900
- Carthage, IL16.4 mi · 2,490 people · home $112,900
- Fort Madison, IA19.2 mi · 10,270 people · home $94,200
Warsaw questions
Is Warsaw, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Warsaw scores better for retirees than 95% of Illinois towns and quieter than 96%. 27.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.6).
How much does a house cost in Warsaw?
The median owner-occupied home in Warsaw is valued at $96,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,750, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $838 a month.
What is the weather like in Warsaw?
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 16.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.8 inches of precipitation a year and 22.1 inches of snow.
Does Warsaw get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Warsaw since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 8, 1999. 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)