The Town FilesEureka, Illinois
City in Woodford County · population 5,227 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $154,300
- Household income
- $56,048
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 21 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 46
- Median age
- 42.2
Eureka is a city of 5,227 people in Woodford County, Illinois. The median home is worth $154,300, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks hipper than 98% of Illinois towns, more of a college town than 95% of Illinois towns, better for retirees than 93% of Illinois towns.
How Eureka 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 Eureka is worth $154,300, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $56,048, which is more affordable than 27% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $692 a month. 71.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Eureka | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $154,300 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $692 | $960 |
| Median household income | $56,048 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 71.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Eureka
| People | Eureka | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.2 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.4% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.8% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 2.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 12.4% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 31.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.7% | 90.4% |
Weather in Eureka
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 17.1°F. About 37.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.2 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
46 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Eureka since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 13 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on November 17, 2013 about 4.7 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 133 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 74 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 20, 2022.
Severe weather in Woodford County since 1996
Woodford County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| November 26, 2013 | Tornado | DR-4157: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Woodford County
Woodford County had 11,428 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,993 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Eureka itself the ACS puts it at 7.7%.
Public schools in Eureka
4 public schools with 1,365 students, about 16.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eureka High School | 9-12 | 481 | 16.0 |
| Eureka Middle School | 5-8 | 460 | 16.4 |
| Davenport Elem School | PK-4 | 424 | 16.3 |
| WCSEA Eureka Intensive ECE | Other | — | — |
Towns near Eureka
- Metamora, IL7.4 mi · 3,904 people · home $201,800
- Washington, IL8.2 mi · 16,071 people · home $221,900
- Germantown Hills, IL10.4 mi · 3,412 people · home $264,900
- Morton, IL12.1 mi · 17,117 people · home $239,400
- El Paso, IL13.7 mi · 2,756 people · home $159,400
- East Peoria, IL14.2 mi · 22,484 people · home $163,500
- Peoria Heights, IL15.5 mi · 5,908 people · home $117,700
- Creve Coeur, IL17.8 mi · 4,934 people · home $85,500
Eureka questions
Is Eureka, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Eureka scores better for retirees than 93% of Illinois towns and quieter than 29%. 24.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.2).
How much does a house cost in Eureka?
The median owner-occupied home in Eureka is valued at $154,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,048, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $692 a month.
What is the weather like in Eureka?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 17.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.5 inches of precipitation a year and 21.2 inches of snow.
Does Eureka get tornadoes?
46 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Eureka 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)