The Town FilesGillespie, Illinois
City in Macoupin County · population 3,168 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $91,000
- Household income
- $82,772
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 34
- Median age
- 45.3
Gillespie is a city of 3,168 people in Macoupin County, Illinois. The median home is worth $91,000, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks hipper than 82% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 74% of Illinois towns.
How Gillespie 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 Gillespie is worth $91,000, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.1 times the median household income of $82,772, which is more affordable than 98% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $750 a month. 72.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gillespie | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $91,000 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $750 | $960 |
| Median household income | $82,772 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 72.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1951 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Gillespie
| People | Gillespie | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.3 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.2% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.1% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.1% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 13.6% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 28.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.3% | 90.4% |
Weather in Gillespie
July highs average 86.2°F and January lows 19.2°F. About 40.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 110 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gillespie since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 31, 2013 about 0.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 7 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 15, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 82 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 25, 1989.
Severe weather in Macoupin County since 1996
Macoupin County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, biological.
| 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 |
| October 3, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1800: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| February 9, 2007 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1681: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Macoupin County
Macoupin County had 10,150 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,689 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Gillespie itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Public schools in Gillespie
3 public schools with 1,139 students, about 13.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ben-Gil Elementary School | PK-5 | 547 | 12.2 |
| Gillespie High School | 9-12 | 330 | 13.2 |
| Gillespie Middle School | 6-8 | 262 | 16.4 |
Towns near Gillespie
- Staunton, IL8.0 mi · 5,054 people · home $143,500
- Litchfield, IL8.9 mi · 6,605 people · home $104,200
- Carlinville, IL11.0 mi · 5,710 people · home $105,700
- Holiday Shores, IL15.2 mi · 2,840 people · home $245,100
- Hillsboro, IL18.8 mi · 5,902 people · home $111,700
- Bethalto, IL19.7 mi · 9,310 people · home $168,900
- Rosewood Heights, IL21.4 mi · 3,971 people · home $137,300
- East Alton, IL22.8 mi · 5,786 people · home $106,700
Gillespie questions
Is Gillespie, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gillespie scores better for retirees than 31% of Illinois towns and quieter than 48%. 21.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.3).
How much does a house cost in Gillespie?
The median owner-occupied home in Gillespie is valued at $91,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $82,772, so homes cost about 1.1 times income. Median rent is $750 a month.
What is the weather like in Gillespie?
July highs average 86.2°F and January lows 19.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.0 inches of precipitation a year and 13.9 inches of snow.
Does Gillespie get tornadoes?
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gillespie since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 31, 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)