The Town FilesWest Frankfort, Illinois
City in Franklin County · population 7,275 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $81,200
- Household income
- $47,898
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 39.0
West Frankfort is a city of 7,275 people in Franklin County, Illinois. The median home is worth $81,200, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks hipper than 90% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 75% of Illinois towns, better for cycling than 74% of Illinois towns.
How West Frankfort 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 West Frankfort is worth $81,200, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $47,898, which is more affordable than 79% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $661 a month. 61.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Frankfort | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $81,200 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $661 | $960 |
| Median household income | $47,898 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 61.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in West Frankfort
| People | West Frankfort | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.8% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 29.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 3.8% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 23.4 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.9% | 90.4% |
Weather in West Frankfort
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 21.9°F. About 46.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 9.8 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 35 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 100 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Frankfort since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 29, 1982 about 10.0 miles from the town center and killed 10. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 10 deaths and 201 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 30, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 59 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on February 28, 2017.
Severe weather in Franklin County since 1996
Franklin County has been included in 10 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 |
| June 7, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1991: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 2, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1850: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Franklin County
Franklin County had 9,079 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,819 a year. Unemployment was 5.5% in 2023; in West Frankfort itself the ACS puts it at 15.2%.
Public schools in West Frankfort
4 public schools with 1,525 students, about 13.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denning Elementary School | PK-2 | 474 | 16.9 |
| Frankfort Intermediate School | 3-6 | 419 | 12.7 |
| Frankfort Comm High School | 9-12 | 414 | 10.9 |
| Central Jr High School | 7-8 | 218 | 12.1 |
Towns near West Frankfort
- Johnston City, IL5.4 mi · 3,384 people · home $88,100
- Benton, IL7.9 mi · 6,709 people · home $87,200
- Christopher, IL8.3 mi · 2,697 people · home $66,600
- Herrin, IL8.9 mi · 12,352 people · home $113,300
- Marion, IL11.4 mi · 16,855 people · home $158,300
- Carterville, IL12.6 mi · 5,848 people · home $197,100
- Du Quoin, IL17.9 mi · 5,827 people · home $83,100
- Carbondale, IL20.1 mi · 21,857 people · home $127,900
West Frankfort questions
Is West Frankfort, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Frankfort scores better for retirees than 8% of Illinois towns and quieter than 24%. 14.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.0).
How much does a house cost in West Frankfort?
The median owner-occupied home in West Frankfort is valued at $81,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,898, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $661 a month.
What is the weather like in West Frankfort?
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 21.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.0 inches of precipitation a year and 9.8 inches of snow.
Does West Frankfort get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Frankfort since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 29, 1982. 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)