The Town FilesArcola, Illinois
City in Douglas County · population 2,927 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $124,100
- Household income
- $89,827
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 36.4
Arcola is a city of 2,927 people in Douglas County, Illinois. The median home is worth $124,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for cycling than 100% of Illinois towns.
How Arcola 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 Arcola is worth $124,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.4 times the median household income of $89,827, which is more affordable than 93% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $803 a month. 74.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Arcola | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $124,100 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $803 | $960 |
| Median household income | $89,827 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 74.7% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in Arcola
| People | Arcola | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.4 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.9% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.6% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 16.9% | — |
| Work from home | 5.3% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 13.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.3% | 90.4% |
Weather in Arcola
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 18.0°F. About 40.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 16.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 117 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Arcola since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 22, 1963 about 8.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 15, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 45 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on April 7, 1998.
Severe weather in Douglas County since 1996
Douglas County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4728: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| November 26, 2013 | Tornado | DR-4157: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Douglas County
Douglas County had 7,643 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,270 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Arcola itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in Arcola
2 public schools with 701 students, about 10.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arcola Elementary School | PK-6 | 410 | 10.5 |
| Arcola High School | 7-12 | 291 | 10.8 |
Towns near Arcola
- Tuscola, IL7.9 mi · 4,636 people · home $154,300
- Mattoon, IL14.6 mi · 16,870 people · home $97,700
- Charleston, IL15.2 mi · 17,286 people · home $137,400
- Sullivan, IL17.5 mi · 4,413 people · home $102,500
- Tolono, IL21.4 mi · 3,604 people · home $208,600
- Savoy, IL26.1 mi · 8,857 people · home $320,300
- Monticello, IL28.2 mi · 5,941 people · home $210,500
- Champaign, IL29.8 mi · 88,302 people · home $210,900
Arcola questions
Is Arcola, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Arcola scores better for retirees than 33% of Illinois towns and quieter than 42%. 13.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.4).
How much does a house cost in Arcola?
The median owner-occupied home in Arcola is valued at $124,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $89,827, so homes cost about 1.4 times income. Median rent is $803 a month.
What is the weather like in Arcola?
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 18.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.5 inches of precipitation a year and 16.9 inches of snow.
Does Arcola get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Arcola since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 22, 1963. 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)