The Town FilesBethalto, Illinois
Village in Madison County · population 9,310 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $168,900
- Household income
- $64,775
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 37
- Median age
- 40.8
Bethalto is a village of 9,310 people in Madison County, Illinois. The median home is worth $168,900, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 86% of Illinois towns, more vibrant than 74% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 71% of Illinois towns.
How Bethalto 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 Bethalto is worth $168,900, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $64,775, which is more affordable than 35% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $981 a month. 80.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bethalto | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $168,900 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $981 | $960 |
| Median household income | $64,775 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 80.1% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Bethalto
| People | Bethalto | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.8 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.9% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.4% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.3% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 4.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 12.1% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 23.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.5% | 90.4% |
Weather in Bethalto
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 21.7°F. About 41.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.8 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 85 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
37 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bethalto since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 15 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1981 about 7.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 10 deaths and 279 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 105 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on June 15, 2010.
Severe weather in Madison County since 1996
Madison County has been included in 16 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 |
| June 24, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1771: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Madison County
Madison County had 105,166 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,153 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Bethalto itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Bethalto
5 public schools with 1,996 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civic Memorial High School | 9-12 | 752 | 15.0 |
| Wilbur Trimpe Middle School | 6-8 | 533 | 13.3 |
| Bethalto East Primary School | PK-1 | 372 | 14.9 |
| Parkside Primary School | 2-3 | 339 | 15.4 |
| Journeys South | 6-12 | — | — |
Towns near Bethalto
- Rosewood Heights, IL1.8 mi · 3,971 people · home $137,300
- Wood River, IL3.2 mi · 10,464 people · home $108,100
- East Alton, IL3.6 mi · 5,786 people · home $106,700
- Alton, IL5.7 mi · 25,676 people · home $103,700
- Holiday Shores, IL6.0 mi · 2,840 people · home $245,100
- Edwardsville, IL8.2 mi · 26,808 people · home $299,800
- Godfrey, IL10.2 mi · 17,825 people · home $192,200
- Glen Carbon, IL10.5 mi · 13,842 people · home $282,000
Bethalto questions
Is Bethalto, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bethalto scores better for retirees than 26% of Illinois towns and quieter than 33%. 22.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.8).
How much does a house cost in Bethalto?
The median owner-occupied home in Bethalto is valued at $168,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,775, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $981 a month.
What is the weather like in Bethalto?
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 21.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.9 inches of precipitation a year and 10.8 inches of snow.
Does Bethalto get tornadoes?
37 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bethalto since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 3, 1981. 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)