The Town FilesBeardstown, Illinois
City in Cass County · population 5,951 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $82,100
- Household income
- $60,587
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 32.7
Beardstown is a city of 5,951 people in Cass County, Illinois. The median home is worth $82,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for cycling than 94% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 86% of Illinois towns.
How Beardstown 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 Beardstown is worth $82,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.4 times the median household income of $60,587, which is more affordable than 93% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $762 a month. 65.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Beardstown | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $82,100 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $762 | $960 |
| Median household income | $60,587 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 65.9% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Beardstown
| People | Beardstown | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.7 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.4% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.7% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 27.9% | — |
| Work from home | 1.6% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 17.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.1% | 90.4% |
Weather in Beardstown
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 17.0°F. About 40.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.8 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 121 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Beardstown since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 7, 1998 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 10, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 10, 2018.
Severe weather in Cass County since 1996
Cass County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| December 13, 2021 | Tornado | EM-3577: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Cass County
Cass County had 5,143 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,068 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Beardstown itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Public schools in Beardstown
3 public schools with 1,496 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beardstown Jr/Sr High School | 5-12 | 837 | 14.7 |
| Gard Elementary School | K-4 | 488 | 13.2 |
| Grand Ave Sch | PK-PK | 171 | 34.2 |
Towns near Beardstown
- Rushville, IL10.4 mi · 3,005 people · home $94,700
- Jacksonville, IL22.1 mi · 17,616 people · home $128,200
- South Jacksonville, IL24.1 mi · 3,302 people · home $135,800
- Havana, IL27.9 mi · 2,963 people · home $95,300
Beardstown questions
Is Beardstown, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Beardstown scores better for retirees than 11% of Illinois towns and quieter than 27%. 12.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.7).
How much does a house cost in Beardstown?
The median owner-occupied home in Beardstown is valued at $82,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,587, so homes cost about 1.4 times income. Median rent is $762 a month.
What is the weather like in Beardstown?
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 17.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.9 inches of precipitation a year and 11.8 inches of snow.
Does Beardstown get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Beardstown since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 7, 1998. 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)