The Town Files

White County, Illinois

13,619 people. The median home is worth $108,100 (typical Illinois town: $156,600) and the median household earns $54,813.

Towns in White County

Towns in White County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Carmi4,865$114,800$47,82744.2

People and housing

White CountyTypical Illinois town
Median home value$108,100$156,600
Median rent$719$960
Median household income$54,813$72,500
Median age44.340.4
Bachelor's degree or higher18.3%21.8%
Below the poverty line16.4%9.9%

Jobs and pay

4,205 jobs in 2024, average pay $49,671 a year.

Largest industries in White CountyRetail736 jobs · $55,586Mining, oil & gas350 jobs · $64,723Hotels & restaurants261 jobs · $18,405Wholesale trade199 jobs · $65,457Finance & insurance185 jobs · $64,326Agriculture, forestry & fishi…129 jobs · $52,752
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in White County0%2%4%6%8%10%2000200420082012201620202023 4.1%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 908 storm events in White County from 1996 to 2026, with 2 deaths.

Storm events in White County by type since 1996Hail51Heat61Flood202Drought28Dense Fog110Flash Flood25Strong Wind67Frost/Freeze51Winter Storm25Winter Weather81
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

White County has been included in 10 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
March 26, 2020BiologicalDR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3435: Covid-19
June 7, 2011Severe StormDR-1991: Severe Storms And Flooding
September 7, 2005HurricaneEM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation
February 1, 2005SnowstormEM-3199: Record/Near Record Snow
May 21, 2002TornadoDR-1416: Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).