The Town FilesHamilton, Illinois
City in Hancock County · population 2,753 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $114,100
- Household income
- $56,895
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 22 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 39.9
Hamilton is a city of 2,753 people in Hancock County, Illinois. The median home is worth $114,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks hipper than 99% of Illinois towns, better for retirees than 96% of Illinois towns.
How Hamilton 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 Hamilton is worth $114,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $56,895, which is more affordable than 61% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $941 a month. 67.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hamilton | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $114,100 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $941 | $960 |
| Median household income | $56,895 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 67.2% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Hamilton
| People | Hamilton | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.9 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.0% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.2% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 10.2% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 24.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.6% | 90.4% |
Weather in Hamilton
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 16.7°F. About 39.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 26 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 117 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hamilton since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 8, 1999 about 0.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 56 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 19, 2013.
Severe weather in Hancock County since 1996
Hancock County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4728: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Hancock County
Hancock County had 4,144 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,832 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Hamilton itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in Hamilton
2 public schools with 582 students, about 12.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton Elementary School | PK-8 | 405 | 12.7 |
| Hamilton High School | 9-12 | 177 | 12.6 |
Towns near Hamilton
- Keokuk, IA2.5 mi · 9,900 people · home $104,300
- Fort Madison, IA15.9 mi · 10,270 people · home $94,200
- Canton, MO20.1 mi · 2,774 people · home $117,900
Hamilton questions
Is Hamilton, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hamilton scores better for retirees than 96% of Illinois towns and quieter than 56%. 20.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.9).
How much does a house cost in Hamilton?
The median owner-occupied home in Hamilton is valued at $114,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,895, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $941 a month.
What is the weather like in Hamilton?
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 16.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.8 inches of precipitation a year and 21.9 inches of snow.
Does Hamilton get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hamilton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 8, 1999. 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)