The Town Files

Fayette County, Illinois

21,315 people. The median home is worth $130,700 (typical Illinois town: $156,600) and the median household earns $60,944.

Towns in Fayette County

Towns in Fayette County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Vandalia7,458$98,500$45,46943.9

People and housing

Fayette CountyTypical Illinois town
Median home value$130,700$156,600
Median rent$798$960
Median household income$60,944$72,500
Median age41.940.4
Bachelor's degree or higher17.2%21.8%
Below the poverty line15.5%9.9%

Jobs and pay

5,030 jobs in 2024, average pay $45,171 a year.

Largest industries in Fayette CountyRetail734 jobs · $32,849Hotels & restaurants557 jobs · $20,942Manufacturing303 jobs · $50,526Construction292 jobs · $50,464Wholesale trade284 jobs · $60,197Administrative & support203 jobs · $43,916
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Fayette County0%2%4%6%8%10%12%2000200420082012201620202023 4.9%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 325 storm events in Fayette County from 1996 to 2026.

Storm events in Fayette County by type since 1996Hail52Heat24Flood5Drought4Tornado21Heavy Snow12Flash Flood23Winter Storm30Excessive Heat25Winter Weather4
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Fayette County has been included in 8 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
December 13, 2021TornadoEM-3577: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes
March 26, 2020BiologicalDR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3435: Covid-19
November 26, 2013TornadoDR-4157: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes
March 17, 2011SnowstormDR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm
February 9, 2007Severe Ice StormDR-1681: Severe Winter Storm
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).