The Town FilesWest Peoria, Illinois
City in Peoria County · population 4,263 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $93,900
- Household income
- $66,098
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 41.1
West Peoria is a city of 4,263 people in Peoria County, Illinois. The median home is worth $93,900, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more walkable than 96% of Illinois towns, more vibrant than 91% of Illinois towns, hipper than 87% of Illinois towns.
How West Peoria 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 Peoria is worth $93,900, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.4 times the median household income of $66,098, which is more affordable than 93% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,199 a month. 83.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Peoria | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $93,900 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,199 | $960 |
| Median household income | $66,098 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 83.3% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1946 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.2% | — |
Who lives in West Peoria
| People | West Peoria | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.1 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.3% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.4% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 16.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.4% | 90.4% |
Weather in West Peoria
July highs average 86.3°F and January lows 17.6°F. About 37.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.2 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 23 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 118 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Peoria since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on November 17, 2013 about 6.4 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 193 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 15, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 144 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 9, 1990.
Severe weather in Peoria County since 1996
Peoria County has been included in 15 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 |
| October 3, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1800: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Peoria County
Peoria County had 103,940 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $74,778 a year. Unemployment was 5.5% in 2023; in West Peoria itself the ACS puts it at 9.2%.
Public schools in West Peoria
2 public schools with 326 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harold B Dawson Middle School | 5-8 | 326 | 17.2 |
| Peoria Regional High School | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near West Peoria
- Bartonville, IL3.9 mi · 5,945 people · home $139,100
- Peoria, IL4.0 mi · 113,150 people · home $156,200
- Creve Coeur, IL4.5 mi · 4,934 people · home $85,500
- Peoria Heights, IL5.0 mi · 5,908 people · home $117,700
- East Peoria, IL5.4 mi · 22,484 people · home $163,500
- Marquette Heights, IL5.7 mi · 2,541 people · home $123,800
- Pekin, IL8.9 mi · 31,731 people · home $120,700
- Germantown Hills, IL10.5 mi · 3,412 people · home $264,900
West Peoria questions
Is West Peoria, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Peoria scores better for retirees than 4% of Illinois towns and quieter than 20%. 23.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.1).
How much does a house cost in West Peoria?
The median owner-occupied home in West Peoria is valued at $93,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,098, so homes cost about 1.4 times income. Median rent is $1,199 a month.
What is the weather like in West Peoria?
July highs average 86.3°F and January lows 17.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.5 inches of precipitation a year and 26.2 inches of snow.
Does West Peoria get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Peoria 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)