The Town FilesEdwardsville, Illinois
City in Madison County · population 26,808 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $299,800
- Household income
- $86,721
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 49
- Median age
- 31.8
Edwardsville is a city of 26,808 people in Madison County, Illinois. The median home is worth $299,800, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for young professionals than 99% of Illinois towns, more of a college town than 97% of Illinois towns, hipper than 93% of Illinois towns.
How Edwardsville 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 Edwardsville is worth $299,800, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $86,721, which is more affordable than 11% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,306 a month. 66.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Edwardsville | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $299,800 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,306 | $960 |
| Median household income | $86,721 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 66.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Edwardsville
| People | Edwardsville | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.8 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.5% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 52.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.6% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 3.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 16.0% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 22.8 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.5% | 90.4% |
Weather in Edwardsville
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 21.7°F. About 41.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.8 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 85 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
49 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Edwardsville since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 17 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1981 about 0.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 9 deaths and 281 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 136 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 28, 1965.
Severe weather in Madison County since 1996
Madison County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| December 13, 2021 | Tornado | EM-3577: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| June 24, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1771: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Madison County
Madison County had 105,166 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,153 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Edwardsville itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Public schools in Edwardsville
10 public schools with 5,903 students, about 16.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edwardsville High School | 9-12 | 2,342 | 17.2 |
| Liberty Middle School | 6-8 | 895 | 16.9 |
| Lincoln Middle School | 6-8 | 819 | 15.5 |
| Woodland Elementary School | 3-5 | 424 | 14.6 |
| Goshen Elementary | PK-2 | 384 | 17.5 |
| Columbus Elem School | 3-5 | 374 | 17.8 |
| LeClaire Elem School | PK-2 | 338 | 13.5 |
| N O Nelson Elem School | K-2 | 327 | 20.4 |
| District 7 Alternative School | 9-12 | — | — |
| Madison Co Detention Center | 6-12 | — | — |
Towns near Edwardsville
- Glen Carbon, IL2.3 mi · 13,842 people · home $282,000
- Maryville, IL4.5 mi · 8,221 people · home $261,800
- Pontoon Beach, IL6.1 mi · 5,876 people · home $145,100
- Troy, IL6.8 mi · 10,960 people · home $268,000
- Wood River, IL6.9 mi · 10,464 people · home $108,100
- Collinsville, IL7.9 mi · 24,366 people · home $163,600
- Rosewood Heights, IL8.1 mi · 3,971 people · home $137,300
- Bethalto, IL8.2 mi · 9,310 people · home $168,900
Edwardsville questions
Is Edwardsville, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Edwardsville scores better for retirees than 58% of Illinois towns and quieter than 17%. 12.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.8).
How much does a house cost in Edwardsville?
The median owner-occupied home in Edwardsville is valued at $299,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $86,721, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,306 a month.
What is the weather like in Edwardsville?
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 21.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.9 inches of precipitation a year and 10.8 inches of snow.
Does Edwardsville get tornadoes?
49 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Edwardsville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 3, 1981. 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)