The Town FilesFulton, Illinois
City in Whiteside County · population 3,647 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $121,700
- Household income
- $45,581
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 44.6
Fulton is a city of 3,647 people in Whiteside County, Illinois. The median home is worth $121,700, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks hipper than 97% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 85% of Illinois towns, better for retirees than 72% of Illinois towns.
How Fulton 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 Fulton is worth $121,700, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $45,581, which is more affordable than 31% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $954 a month. 77.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fulton | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $121,700 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $954 | $960 |
| Median household income | $45,581 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 77.1% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.8% | — |
Who lives in Fulton
| People | Fulton | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.6 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.3% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.8% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 16.4 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.7% | 90.4% |
Weather in Fulton
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 13.6°F. About 34.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 132 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fulton since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 13, 1990 about 7.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 24 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 24, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 2, 2026.
Severe weather in Whiteside County since 1996
Whiteside 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 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 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 Whiteside County
Whiteside County had 21,197 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,164 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Fulton itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Public schools in Fulton
4 public schools with 957 students, about 14.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fulton Elem School | K-5 | 405 | 14.5 |
| Fulton High School | 9-12 | 275 | 12.5 |
| River Bend Middle School | 6-8 | 238 | 17.0 |
| Early Step Pre-School | PK-PK | 39 | 19.5 |
Towns near Fulton
- Clinton, IA4.6 mi · 24,469 people · home $118,200
- Camanche, IA7.9 mi · 4,570 people · home $172,400
- Morrison, IL10.9 mi · 4,085 people · home $118,000
- Savanna, IL15.8 mi · 2,783 people · home $72,400
- DeWitt, IA20.1 mi · 5,514 people · home $237,100
- Le Claire, IA21.8 mi · 4,710 people · home $318,700
- Park View, IA22.9 mi · 2,709 people · home $276,000
- Sterling, IL24.3 mi · 14,764 people · home $108,700
Fulton questions
Is Fulton, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fulton scores better for retirees than 72% of Illinois towns and quieter than 55%. 22.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.6).
How much does a house cost in Fulton?
The median owner-occupied home in Fulton is valued at $121,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $45,581, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $954 a month.
What is the weather like in Fulton?
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 13.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.3 inches of precipitation a year and 31.9 inches of snow.
Does Fulton get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fulton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 13, 1990. 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)