The Town FilesCarlinville, Illinois
City in Macoupin County · population 5,710 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $105,700
- Household income
- $57,708
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 39.9
Carlinville is a city of 5,710 people in Macoupin County, Illinois. The median home is worth $105,700, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks hipper than 97% of Illinois towns, better for cycling than 93% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 78% of Illinois towns.
How Carlinville 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 Carlinville is worth $105,700, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $57,708, which is more affordable than 74% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $824 a month. 63.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Carlinville | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $105,700 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $824 | $960 |
| Median household income | $57,708 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 63.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Carlinville
| People | Carlinville | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.9 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.3% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.4% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.5% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 21.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.4% | 90.4% |
Weather in Carlinville
July highs average 86.2°F and January lows 19.2°F. About 40.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 16.5 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 110 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carlinville since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 12, 1978 about 0.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 18, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 25, 1989.
Severe weather in Macoupin County since 1996
Macoupin County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, biological.
| 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 |
| October 3, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1800: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| February 9, 2007 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1681: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Macoupin County
Macoupin County had 10,150 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,689 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Carlinville itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Carlinville
6 public schools with 1,295 students, about 13.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlinville Primary School | PK-2 | 387 | 14.9 |
| Carlinville High School | 9-12 | 361 | 11.3 |
| Carlinville Middle School | 6-8 | 283 | 14.2 |
| Carlinville Intermediate School | 3-5 | 264 | 16.5 |
| ROE Alt. Edu. Center-Macoupin | 10-12 | — | — |
| ROE Safe Sch Macoupin | 6-12 | — | — |
Towns near Carlinville
- Gillespie, IL11.0 mi · 3,168 people · home $91,000
- Litchfield, IL13.3 mi · 6,605 people · home $104,200
- Virden, IL16.8 mi · 3,231 people · home $101,300
- Staunton, IL18.9 mi · 5,054 people · home $143,500
- Auburn, IL21.8 mi · 4,574 people · home $149,600
- Hillsboro, IL22.7 mi · 5,902 people · home $111,700
- Holiday Shores, IL24.4 mi · 2,840 people · home $245,100
- Jerseyville, IL26.5 mi · 8,337 people · home $143,900
Carlinville questions
Is Carlinville, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Carlinville scores better for retirees than 71% of Illinois towns and quieter than 53%. 24.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.9).
How much does a house cost in Carlinville?
The median owner-occupied home in Carlinville is valued at $105,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,708, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $824 a month.
What is the weather like in Carlinville?
July highs average 86.2°F and January lows 19.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.0 inches of precipitation a year and 16.5 inches of snow.
Does Carlinville get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carlinville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 12, 1978. 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)