The Town FilesGodfrey, Illinois
Village in Madison County · population 17,825 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $192,200
- Household income
- $94,543
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 48.4
Godfrey is a village of 17,825 people in Madison County, Illinois. The median home is worth $192,200, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for retirees than 84% of Illinois towns, better for first-time buyers than 80% of Illinois towns, more of a college town than 80% of Illinois towns.
How Godfrey 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 Godfrey is worth $192,200, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $94,543, which is more affordable than 61% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,153 a month. 84.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Godfrey | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $192,200 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,153 | $960 |
| Median household income | $94,543 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 84.0% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Godfrey
| People | Godfrey | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.4 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.7% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.4% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.4% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 10.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 16.3% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 25.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.7% | 90.4% |
Weather in Godfrey
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 13.9 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
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Godfrey since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 7, 1980 about 9.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 77 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 9, 2015.
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 Godfrey itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Public schools in Godfrey
3 public schools with 1,016 students, about 14.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Elementary School | 2-5 | 567 | 16.7 |
| Lewis & Clark Elem School | K-1 | 263 | 13.8 |
| Gilson Brown Elem School | K-1 | 186 | 10.9 |
Towns near Godfrey
- Alton, IL5.1 mi · 25,676 people · home $103,700
- East Alton, IL7.8 mi · 5,786 people · home $106,700
- Old Jamestown, MO8.8 mi · 19,790 people · home $236,100
- Rosewood Heights, IL9.2 mi · 3,971 people · home $137,300
- Wood River, IL10.0 mi · 10,464 people · home $108,100
- Bethalto, IL10.2 mi · 9,310 people · home $168,900
- Black Jack, MO10.9 mi · 6,634 people · home $193,000
- Spanish Lake, MO11.4 mi · 18,413 people · home $135,600
Godfrey questions
Is Godfrey, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Godfrey scores better for retirees than 84% of Illinois towns and quieter than 45%. 25.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.4).
How much does a house cost in Godfrey?
The median owner-occupied home in Godfrey is valued at $192,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $94,543, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $1,153 a month.
What is the weather like in Godfrey?
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 13.9 inches of snow.
Does Godfrey get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Godfrey since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 7, 1980. 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)