The Town FilesBushnell, Illinois
City in McDonough County · population 2,718 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $71,900
- Household income
- $67,518
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 21 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 50.2
Bushnell is a city of 2,718 people in McDonough County, Illinois. The median home is worth $71,900, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for cycling than 88% of Illinois towns, hipper than 81% of Illinois towns, more of a college town than 79% of Illinois towns.
How Bushnell 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 Bushnell is worth $71,900, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.1 times the median household income of $67,518, which is more affordable than 98% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $648 a month. 71.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bushnell | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $71,900 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $648 | $960 |
| Median household income | $67,518 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 71.4% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1944 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.2% | — |
Who lives in Bushnell
| People | Bushnell | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.2 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.5% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 14.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.8% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 9.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 3.3% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 26.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.7% | 90.4% |
Weather in Bushnell
July highs average 85.7°F and January lows 16.0°F. About 38.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.3 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 26 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 128 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bushnell since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 23, 1975 about 9.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 13, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 7, 2023.
Severe weather in McDonough County since 1996
McDonough County has been included in 11 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 |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in McDonough County
McDonough County had 10,119 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,433 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Bushnell itself the ACS puts it at 6.6%.
Public schools in Bushnell
3 public schools with 607 students, about 9.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bushnell-Prairie City Elem Sch | PK-5 | 312 | 10.8 |
| Bushnell-Prairie City High Sch | 9-12 | 175 | 8.0 |
| Bushnell-Prairie City Jr High Sch | 6-8 | 120 | 10.0 |
Towns near Bushnell
- Macomb, IL10.9 mi · 15,051 people · home $103,300
- Abingdon, IL18.3 mi · 2,951 people · home $99,600
- Canton, IL24.6 mi · 13,242 people · home $107,100
- Monmouth, IL26.1 mi · 8,902 people · home $86,800
- Knoxville, IL27.1 mi · 2,901 people · home $145,300
- Galesburg, IL28.3 mi · 30,052 people · home $96,400
- Havana, IL29.4 mi · 2,963 people · home $95,300
Bushnell questions
Is Bushnell, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bushnell scores better for retirees than 68% of Illinois towns and quieter than 62%. 24.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.2).
How much does a house cost in Bushnell?
The median owner-occupied home in Bushnell is valued at $71,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,518, so homes cost about 1.1 times income. Median rent is $648 a month.
What is the weather like in Bushnell?
July highs average 85.7°F and January lows 16.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.5 inches of precipitation a year and 21.3 inches of snow.
Does Bushnell get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bushnell since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 23, 1975. 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)