The Town FilesZeigler, Illinois
City in Franklin County · population 1,484 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $57,300
- Household income
- $41,553
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 48.7
Zeigler is a city of 1,484 people in Franklin County, Illinois. The median home is worth $57,300, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks quieter than 77% of Illinois towns.
How Zeigler 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 Zeigler is worth $57,300, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.4 times the median household income of $41,553, which is more affordable than 93% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $920 a month. 76.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Zeigler | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $57,300 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $920 | $960 |
| Median household income | $41,553 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 76.8% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Zeigler
| People | Zeigler | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.7 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.4% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 12.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.2% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 11.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 28.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.9% | 90.4% |
Weather in Zeigler
July highs average 87.2°F and January lows 23.9°F. About 47.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 9.8 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 38 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 93 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Zeigler since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 29, 1982 about 8.3 miles from the town center and killed 10. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 21 deaths and 387 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 5, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 80 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 Zeigler itself the ACS puts it at 10.4%.
Towns near Zeigler
- Royalton, IL3.8 mi · 1,068 people · home $71,500
- Christopher, IL4.5 mi · 2,697 people · home $66,600
- North City, IL5.9 mi · 509 people · home $114,100
- West Frankfort, IL6.7 mi · 7,275 people · home $81,200
- Hurst, IL7.0 mi · 764 people · home $68,600
- Herrin, IL7.5 mi · 12,352 people · home $113,300
- Valier, IL7.8 mi · 554 people · home $80,100
- West City, IL8.4 mi · 656 people · home $71,400
Zeigler questions
Is Zeigler, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Zeigler scores better for retirees than 50% of Illinois towns and quieter than 77%. 20.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.7).
How much does a house cost in Zeigler?
The median owner-occupied home in Zeigler is valued at $57,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,553, so homes cost about 1.4 times income. Median rent is $920 a month.
What is the weather like in Zeigler?
July highs average 87.2°F and January lows 23.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.7 inches of precipitation a year and 9.8 inches of snow.
Does Zeigler get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Zeigler 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)