The Town FilesWashburn, Illinois
Village in Woodford County · population 1,032 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $89,100
- Household income
- $76,667
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 18 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 43.4
Washburn is a village of 1,032 people in Woodford County, Illinois. The median home is worth $89,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks quieter than 88% of Illinois towns, better for families than 85% of Illinois towns, easier by car than 79% of Illinois towns.
How Washburn 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 Washburn is worth $89,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.2 times the median household income of $76,667, which is more affordable than 98% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $856 a month. 83.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Washburn | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $89,100 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $856 | $960 |
| Median household income | $76,667 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 83.7% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Washburn
| People | Washburn | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.4 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.4% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.1% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.5% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 5.5% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 37.4 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.4% | 90.4% |
Weather in Washburn
July highs average 87.0°F and January lows 18.0°F. About 38.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 18.4 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 121 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washburn since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on July 13, 2004 about 8.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 45 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on March 31, 2023.
Severe weather in Woodford County since 1996
Woodford County has been included in 14 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 |
| November 26, 2013 | Tornado | DR-4157: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 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 Woodford County
Woodford County had 11,428 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,993 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Washburn itself the ACS puts it at 5.8%.
Public schools in Washburn
3 public schools with 317 students, about 11.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowpoint-Washburn Elem School | PK-5 | 159 | 13.3 |
| Lowpoint-Washburn Jr Sr High Sch | 6-12 | 158 | 10.5 |
| WCSEA-Lowpoint Washburn | Other | — | — |
Towns near Washburn
- Lacon, IL9.3 mi · 1,878 people · home $121,900
- Metamora, IL9.5 mi · 3,904 people · home $201,800
- Roanoke, IL9.7 mi · 1,960 people · home $139,900
- Toluca, IL10.1 mi · 1,340 people · home $113,500
- Chillicothe, IL11.0 mi · 6,128 people · home $132,900
- Rome, IL11.9 mi · 1,604 people · home $159,800
- Minonk, IL13.3 mi · 1,928 people · home $120,500
- Germantown Hills, IL13.8 mi · 3,412 people · home $264,900
Washburn questions
Is Washburn, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Washburn scores better for retirees than 60% of Illinois towns and quieter than 88%. 19.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.4).
How much does a house cost in Washburn?
The median owner-occupied home in Washburn is valued at $89,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,667, so homes cost about 1.2 times income. Median rent is $856 a month.
What is the weather like in Washburn?
July highs average 87.0°F and January lows 18.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.4 inches of precipitation a year and 18.4 inches of snow.
Does Washburn get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washburn since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on July 13, 2004. 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)