The Town FilesWillisville, Illinois
Village in Perry County · population 579 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $57,300
- Household income
- $55,417
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 33.6
Willisville is a village of 579 people in Perry County, Illinois. The median home is worth $57,300, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks easier by car than 82% of Illinois towns, quieter than 80% of Illinois towns, better for families than 79% of Illinois towns.
How Willisville 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 Willisville is worth $57,300, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.0 times the median household income of $55,417, which is more affordable than 99% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $844 a month. 75.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Willisville | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $57,300 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $844 | $960 |
| Median household income | $55,417 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 75.9% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.6% | — |
Who lives in Willisville
| People | Willisville | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.6 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.8% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 31.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 4.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 20.8 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.1% | 90.4% |
Weather in Willisville
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 21.6°F. About 45.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.3 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 35 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 109 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Willisville since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 17 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on February 28, 2017 about 8.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 39 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 14, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 26, 1997.
Severe weather in Perry County since 1996
Perry County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, biological.
| 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 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| May 21, 2002 | Tornado | DR-1416: Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Perry County
Perry County had 4,622 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,313 a year. Unemployment was 5.3% in 2023; in Willisville itself the ACS puts it at 6.7%.
Towns near Willisville
- Percy, IL2.7 mi · 906 people · home $77,200
- Steeleville, IL4.3 mi · 1,930 people · home $158,500
- Ava, IL8.3 mi · 553 people · home $90,500
- Sparta, IL13.3 mi · 4,095 people · home $111,200
- Chester, IL13.5 mi · 6,814 people · home $111,700
- Coulterville, IL14.0 mi · 834 people · home $82,300
- Pinckneyville, IL16.0 mi · 5,066 people · home $133,500
- Tilden, IL16.6 mi · 750 people · home $70,300
Willisville questions
Is Willisville, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Willisville scores better for retirees than 42% of Illinois towns and quieter than 80%. 15.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.6).
How much does a house cost in Willisville?
The median owner-occupied home in Willisville is valued at $57,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,417, so homes cost about 1.0 times income. Median rent is $844 a month.
What is the weather like in Willisville?
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 21.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.6 inches of precipitation a year and 7.3 inches of snow.
Does Willisville get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Willisville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on February 28, 2017. 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)