The Town FilesCarmi, Illinois
City in White County · population 4,865 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $114,800
- Household income
- $47,827
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 44.2
Carmi is a city of 4,865 people in White County, Illinois. The median home is worth $114,800, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600).
How Carmi 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 Carmi is worth $114,800, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $47,827, which is more affordable than 42% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $839 a month. 69.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Carmi | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $114,800 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $839 | $960 |
| Median household income | $47,827 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 69.1% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Carmi
| People | Carmi | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.2 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.5% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.8% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 4.9% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 20.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.1% | 90.4% |
Weather in Carmi
July highs average 87.6°F and January lows 21.2°F. About 48.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.7 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
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carmi since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on February 28, 2017 about 4.7 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 1 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 2, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 24, 2002.
Severe weather in White County since 1996
White County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| February 1, 2005 | Snowstorm | EM-3199: Record/Near Record Snow |
Jobs and pay in White County
White County had 4,205 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,671 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Carmi itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in Carmi
8 public schools with 1,304 students, about 12.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carmi-White County High School | 9-12 | 405 | 15.0 |
| Washington Attendance Center | 4-6 | 255 | 13.4 |
| Carmi White Cnty Jr High Sch | 7-8 | 212 | 15.1 |
| Jefferson Attendance Center | 2-3 | 175 | 14.6 |
| Lincoln Attendance Center | K-1 | 172 | 10.8 |
| Prekindergarten Facility | PK-PK | 85 | 42.5 |
| ROE 20 Learning Alt Branch School | 6-12 | — | — |
| Brownsville Attendance Center | 1-12 | — | — |
Towns near Carmi
- Mount Vernon, IN18.2 mi · 6,493 people · home $163,300
- McLeansboro, IL19.9 mi · 2,675 people · home $79,500
- Fairfield, IL23.1 mi · 4,883 people · home $88,800
- Eldorado, IL24.0 mi · 3,743 people · home $66,200
Carmi questions
Is Carmi, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Carmi scores better for retirees than 61% of Illinois towns and quieter than 37%. 24.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.2).
How much does a house cost in Carmi?
The median owner-occupied home in Carmi is valued at $114,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,827, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $839 a month.
What is the weather like in Carmi?
July highs average 87.6°F and January lows 21.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.3 inches of precipitation a year and 11.7 inches of snow.
Does Carmi get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carmi 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)