The Town FilesWenona, Illinois
City in Marshall County · population 974 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $101,100
- Household income
- $43,300
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 18 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 36.0
Wenona is a city of 974 people in Marshall County, Illinois. The median home is worth $101,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for a vacation home than 98% of Illinois towns, easier by car than 92% of Illinois towns, better for retirees than 85% of Illinois towns.
How Wenona 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 Wenona is worth $101,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $43,300, which is more affordable than 45% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $866 a month. 57.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wenona | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $101,100 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $866 | $960 |
| Median household income | $43,300 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 57.9% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Wenona
| People | Wenona | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.0 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.4% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.1% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 8.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.1% | — |
| Work from home | 3.8% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 22.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.3% | 90.4% |
Weather in Wenona
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 15.2°F. About 37.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 18.4 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 135 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wenona since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on June 11, 2026 about 8.8 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 34 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 11, 2026.
Severe weather in Marshall County since 1996
Marshall County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| December 29, 2006 | Snowstorm | EM-3269: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Marshall County
Marshall County had 2,765 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,124 a year. Unemployment was 5.2% in 2023; in Wenona itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Wenona
2 public schools with 188 students, about 11.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fieldcrest Middle School | 6-8 | 188 | 11.8 |
| WCSEA-Wenona-6-8 | Other | — | — |
Towns near Wenona
- Toluca, IL5.2 mi · 1,340 people · home $113,500
- Minonk, IL9.6 mi · 1,928 people · home $120,500
- Tonica, IL11.6 mi · 749 people · home $126,300
- Streator, IL12.7 mi · 12,500 people · home $94,700
- Washburn, IL15.3 mi · 1,032 people · home $89,100
- Flanagan, IL15.6 mi · 1,010 people · home $108,900
- Henry, IL16.6 mi · 2,320 people · home $117,000
- Oglesby, IL16.9 mi · 3,712 people · home $139,700
Wenona questions
Is Wenona, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wenona scores better for retirees than 85% of Illinois towns and quieter than 81%. 16.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.0).
How much does a house cost in Wenona?
The median owner-occupied home in Wenona is valued at $101,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $43,300, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $866 a month.
What is the weather like in Wenona?
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 15.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.6 inches of precipitation a year and 18.4 inches of snow.
Does Wenona get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wenona since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on June 11, 2026. 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)