The Town FilesBenton, Illinois
City in Franklin County · population 6,709 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $87,200
- Household income
- $54,123
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 42.6
Benton is a city of 6,709 people in Franklin County, Illinois. The median home is worth $87,200, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for cycling than 89% of Illinois towns, hipper than 77% of Illinois towns, better for retirees than 74% of Illinois towns.
How Benton 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 Benton is worth $87,200, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $54,123, which is more affordable than 85% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $798 a month. 62.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Benton | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $87,200 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $798 | $960 |
| Median household income | $54,123 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 62.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.2% | — |
Who lives in Benton
| People | Benton | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.6 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.4% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.7% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 11.0% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 23.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.5% | 90.4% |
Weather in Benton
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 21.9°F. About 46.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.4 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 35 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 100 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Benton since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on February 28, 2017 about 9.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 9 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 30, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 59 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 Benton itself the ACS puts it at 3.9%.
Public schools in Benton
7 public schools with 1,629 students, about 14.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benton Grade Sch K-4 | PK-4 | 599 | 16.2 |
| Benton Cons High School | 9-12 | 597 | 13.6 |
| Benton Grade Sch 5-8 | 5-8 | 433 | 12.7 |
| Starquest Acad RSSP North | 6-8 | — | — |
| Franklin Co Detention Center 6-8 | 6-8 | — | — |
| Franklin Co Detention Center 9-12 | 9-12 | — | — |
| ECHO Juvenile Detention Ctr | 4-12 | — | — |
Towns near Benton
- West Frankfort, IL7.9 mi · 7,275 people · home $81,200
- Christopher, IL7.9 mi · 2,697 people · home $66,600
- Johnston City, IL13.3 mi · 3,384 people · home $88,100
- Herrin, IL16.1 mi · 12,352 people · home $113,300
- Du Quoin, IL17.2 mi · 5,827 people · home $83,100
- Marion, IL19.3 mi · 16,855 people · home $158,300
- Carterville, IL19.6 mi · 5,848 people · home $197,100
- Mount Vernon, IL20.8 mi · 14,600 people · home $99,800
Benton questions
Is Benton, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Benton scores better for retirees than 74% of Illinois towns and quieter than 64%. 25.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.6).
How much does a house cost in Benton?
The median owner-occupied home in Benton is valued at $87,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,123, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $798 a month.
What is the weather like in Benton?
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 21.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.0 inches of precipitation a year and 10.4 inches of snow.
Does Benton get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Benton 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)