The Town FilesCarterville, Illinois
City in Williamson County · population 5,848 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $197,100
- Household income
- $62,337
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 37.0
Carterville is a city of 5,848 people in Williamson County, Illinois. The median home is worth $197,100, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for a vacation home than 97% of Illinois towns, hipper than 89% of Illinois towns, better for young professionals than 81% of Illinois towns.
How Carterville 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 Carterville is worth $197,100, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $62,337, which is more affordable than 17% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $909 a month. 59.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Carterville | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $197,100 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $909 | $960 |
| Median household income | $62,337 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 59.7% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in Carterville
| People | Carterville | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.0 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.9% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 46.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.9% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 10.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 9.1% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 20.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.0% | 90.4% |
Weather in Carterville
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
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carterville since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on May 16, 2025 about 7.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 21 deaths and 415 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 97 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 30, 2023.
Severe weather in Williamson County since 1996
Williamson County has been included in 9 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 |
| July 2, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1850: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Williamson County
Williamson County had 28,465 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,081 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Carterville itself the ACS puts it at 4.7%.
Public schools in Carterville
4 public schools with 2,166 students, about 15.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tri-C Elementary School | K-3 | 657 | 14.3 |
| Carterville High School | 9-12 | 647 | 17.5 |
| Carterville Intermediate Sch | 4-6 | 514 | 14.3 |
| Carterville Jr High Sch | 7-8 | 348 | 16.6 |
Towns near Carterville
- Herrin, IL3.8 mi · 12,352 people · home $113,300
- Marion, IL8.1 mi · 16,855 people · home $158,300
- Carbondale, IL8.1 mi · 21,857 people · home $127,900
- Johnston City, IL9.4 mi · 3,384 people · home $88,100
- West Frankfort, IL12.6 mi · 7,275 people · home $81,200
- Murphysboro, IL13.5 mi · 7,093 people · home $85,900
- Christopher, IL14.5 mi · 2,697 people · home $66,600
- Du Quoin, IL18.4 mi · 5,827 people · home $83,100
Carterville questions
Is Carterville, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Carterville scores better for retirees than 52% of Illinois towns and quieter than 17%. 16.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.0).
How much does a house cost in Carterville?
The median owner-occupied home in Carterville is valued at $197,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,337, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $909 a month.
What is the weather like in Carterville?
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 Carterville get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carterville 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)