The Town FilesCentralia, Illinois
City in Marion County · population 12,182 (2020 Census) · spans 4 counties
- Median home
- $89,600
- Household income
- $47,807
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 39.1
Centralia is a city of 12,182 people in Marion County, Illinois. The median home is worth $89,600, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 87% of Illinois towns, better for cycling than 80% of Illinois towns, hipper than 76% of Illinois towns.
How Centralia 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 Centralia is worth $89,600, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $47,807, which is more affordable than 68% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $765 a month. 62.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Centralia | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $89,600 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $765 | $960 |
| Median household income | $47,807 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 62.5% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.2% | — |
Who lives in Centralia
| People | Centralia | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.1 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.1% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.4% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.3% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.4% | — |
| Work from home | 6.0% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 19.0 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.1% | 90.4% |
Weather in Centralia
July highs average 87.5°F and January lows 20.9°F. About 44.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.5 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 33 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 109 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Centralia since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on November 17, 2013 about 8.4 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 12 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 15, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 28, 2012.
Severe weather in Marion County since 1996
Marion County has been included in 8 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 |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Marion County
Marion County had 12,409 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,266 a year. Unemployment was 4.9% in 2023; in Centralia itself the ACS puts it at 11.2%.
Public schools in Centralia
15 public schools with 2,802 students, about 11.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centralia High School | 9-12 | 897 | 13.0 |
| Centralia Jr High School | 4-8 | 584 | 12.4 |
| Central City Elem School | PK-8 | 298 | 13.0 |
| Schiller Elem School | PK-1 | 251 | 15.7 |
| Jordan Elem School | 2-3 | 227 | 13.4 |
| Raccoon Cons Elem School | PK-8 | 202 | 11.9 |
| Willow Grove Elem School | PK-8 | 135 | 9.6 |
| North Wamac Grade School | K-8 | 132 | 13.2 |
| Grand Prairie Elem School | K-8 | 73 | 10.4 |
| Centralia Pre-Kindergarten Ctr | PK-PK | 3 | — |
| Safe School Program Centralia | 7-12 | — | — |
| Centralia Alternative School | 7-12 | — | — |
Towns near Centralia
- Salem, IL11.5 mi · 7,282 people · home $106,100
- Carlyle, IL15.3 mi · 3,253 people · home $155,000
- Mount Vernon, IL18.2 mi · 14,600 people · home $99,800
- Nashville, IL19.0 mi · 3,105 people · home $156,500
- Breese, IL22.5 mi · 4,641 people · home $229,600
- Greenville, IL29.0 mi · 7,083 people · home $122,000
Centralia questions
Is Centralia, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Centralia scores better for retirees than 24% of Illinois towns and quieter than 28%. 22.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.1).
How much does a house cost in Centralia?
The median owner-occupied home in Centralia is valued at $89,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,807, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $765 a month.
What is the weather like in Centralia?
July highs average 87.5°F and January lows 20.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.7 inches of precipitation a year and 6.5 inches of snow.
Does Centralia get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Centralia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on November 17, 2013. 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)