The Town FilesCarbondale, Illinois
City in Jackson County · population 21,857 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $127,900
- Household income
- $32,128
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 24.6
Carbondale is a city of 21,857 people in Jackson County, Illinois. The median home is worth $127,900, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for young professionals than 99% of Illinois towns, better for cycling than 98% of Illinois towns, hipper than 97% of Illinois towns.
How Carbondale 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 Carbondale is worth $127,900, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $32,128, which is more affordable than 4% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $771 a month. 26.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Carbondale | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $127,900 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $771 | $960 |
| Median household income | $32,128 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 26.4% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Carbondale
| People | Carbondale | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 24.6 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.9% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 13.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 48.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 37.4% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 2.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.1% | — |
| Work from home | 12.0% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 16.4 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.3% | 90.4% |
Weather in Carbondale
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 23.4°F. About 49.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.4 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 38 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 103 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carbondale since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on May 16, 2025 about 8.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 21 deaths and 390 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 83 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 30, 2023.
Severe weather in Jackson County since 1996
Jackson County has been included in 15 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 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| June 7, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1991: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 2, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1850: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Jackson County
Jackson County had 25,266 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,398 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Carbondale itself the ACS puts it at 10.4%.
Public schools in Carbondale
10 public schools with 3,515 students, about 13.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbondale Comm H S | 9-12 | 995 | 13.8 |
| Unity Point Elem School | PK-8 | 660 | 12.9 |
| Parrish Elem School | PK-1 | 475 | 14.4 |
| Carbondale Middle School | 6-8 | 468 | 14.2 |
| Thomas Elementary School | 2-3 | 366 | 13.6 |
| Lewis School | 4-5 | 309 | 11.9 |
| Giant City Elem School | PK-8 | 242 | 15.1 |
| Eurma C Hayes Center | Other | — | — |
| TCSE-CARBONDALE HS | Other | — | — |
| TCSE-UNITY POINT ELEM | Other | — | — |
Towns near Carbondale
- Murphysboro, IL6.7 mi · 7,093 people · home $85,900
- Carterville, IL8.1 mi · 5,848 people · home $197,100
- Herrin, IL11.8 mi · 12,352 people · home $113,300
- Marion, IL15.5 mi · 16,855 people · home $158,300
- Johnston City, IL17.5 mi · 3,384 people · home $88,100
- Anna, IL18.0 mi · 4,303 people · home $134,300
- Du Quoin, IL19.3 mi · 5,827 people · home $83,100
- Christopher, IL19.6 mi · 2,697 people · home $66,600
Carbondale questions
Is Carbondale, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Carbondale scores better for retirees than 11% of Illinois towns and quieter than 17%. 9.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 24.6).
How much does a house cost in Carbondale?
The median owner-occupied home in Carbondale is valued at $127,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $32,128, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $771 a month.
What is the weather like in Carbondale?
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 23.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.0 inches of precipitation a year and 11.4 inches of snow.
Does Carbondale get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carbondale since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on May 16, 2025. 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)