The Town FilesWoodlawn, Illinois
Village in Jefferson County · population 617 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $132,700
- Household income
- $72,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 36.9
Woodlawn is a village of 617 people in Jefferson County, Illinois. The median home is worth $132,700, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks easier by car than 92% of Illinois towns, quieter than 71% of Illinois towns.
How Woodlawn 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 Woodlawn is worth $132,700, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $72,500, which is more affordable than 74% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,009 a month. 83.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Woodlawn | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $132,700 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,009 | $960 |
| Median household income | $72,500 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 83.1% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Woodlawn
| People | Woodlawn | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.9 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.7% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.3% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.2% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.3% | — |
| Work from home | 3.2% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 22.4 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.8% | 90.4% |
Weather in Woodlawn
July highs average 85.7°F and January lows 21.7°F. About 45.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.3 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 108 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Woodlawn since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on December 18, 1957 about 2.5 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 48 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 14, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 44 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on May 5, 1999.
Severe weather in Jefferson County since 1996
Jefferson County has been included in 5 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 Jefferson County
Jefferson County had 19,307 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,833 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Woodlawn itself the ACS puts it at 11.9%.
Public schools in Woodlawn
2 public schools with 497 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodlawn Grade School | PK-8 | 321 | 14.0 |
| Woodlawn High School | 9-12 | 176 | 12.6 |
Towns near Woodlawn
- Mount Vernon, IL6.4 mi · 14,600 people · home $99,800
- Irvington, IL10.2 mi · 581 people · home $91,700
- Wamac, IL12.8 mi · 985 people · home $20,100
- Ina, IL14.2 mi · 1,641 people · home $104,200
- Centralia, IL14.2 mi · 12,182 people · home $89,600
- Hoyleton, IL15.2 mi · 520 people · home $100,000
- Central City, IL16.1 mi · 1,098 people · home $47,600
- Bluford, IL16.2 mi · 630 people · home $94,500
Woodlawn questions
Is Woodlawn, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Woodlawn scores better for retirees than 42% of Illinois towns and quieter than 71%. 17.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.9).
How much does a house cost in Woodlawn?
The median owner-occupied home in Woodlawn is valued at $132,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,500, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $1,009 a month.
What is the weather like in Woodlawn?
July highs average 85.7°F and January lows 21.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.0 inches of precipitation a year and 8.3 inches of snow.
Does Woodlawn get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Woodlawn since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on December 18, 1957. 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)