The Town FilesJohnston City, Illinois
City in Williamson County · population 3,384 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $88,100
- Household income
- $42,465
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 38.3
Johnston City is a city of 3,384 people in Williamson County, Illinois. The median home is worth $88,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks hipper than 81% of Illinois towns.
How Johnston City 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 Johnston City is worth $88,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $42,465, which is more affordable than 55% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $976 a month. 71.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Johnston City | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $88,100 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $976 | $960 |
| Median household income | $42,465 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 71.4% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Johnston City
| People | Johnston City | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.3 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.7% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.9% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 2.6% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 14.3 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.0% | 90.4% |
Weather in Johnston City
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 23.4°F. About 49.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 9.8 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 38 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 103 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Johnston City since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 29, 1982 about 4.9 miles from the town center and killed 10. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 10 deaths and 217 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 5, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 68 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 30, 2023.
Severe weather in Williamson County since 1996
Williamson County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| June 7, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1991: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 2, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1850: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Williamson County
Williamson County had 28,465 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,081 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Johnston City itself the ACS puts it at 8.3%.
Public schools in Johnston City
4 public schools with 926 students, about 12.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnston City High School | 9-12 | 330 | 12.2 |
| Washington Middle School | 5-8 | 300 | 13.6 |
| Jefferson Elem School | PK-2 | 296 | 16.4 |
| Project Echo | 7-12 | — | — |
Towns near Johnston City
- West Frankfort, IL5.4 mi · 7,275 people · home $81,200
- Herrin, IL5.7 mi · 12,352 people · home $113,300
- Marion, IL6.0 mi · 16,855 people · home $158,300
- Carterville, IL9.4 mi · 5,848 people · home $197,100
- Christopher, IL12.4 mi · 2,697 people · home $66,600
- Benton, IL13.3 mi · 6,709 people · home $87,200
- Carbondale, IL17.5 mi · 21,857 people · home $127,900
- Du Quoin, IL20.7 mi · 5,827 people · home $83,100
Johnston City questions
Is Johnston City, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Johnston City scores better for retirees than 37% of Illinois towns and quieter than 58%. 16.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.3).
How much does a house cost in Johnston City?
The median owner-occupied home in Johnston City is valued at $88,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,465, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $976 a month.
What is the weather like in Johnston City?
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 23.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.0 inches of precipitation a year and 9.8 inches of snow.
Does Johnston City get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Johnston City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 29, 1982. 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)