The Town FilesKewanee, Illinois
City in Henry County · population 12,509 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $73,200
- Household income
- $50,886
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 46.3
Kewanee is a city of 12,509 people in Henry County, Illinois. The median home is worth $73,200, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more walkable than 77% of Illinois towns.
How Kewanee 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 Kewanee is worth $73,200, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.4 times the median household income of $50,886, which is more affordable than 93% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $797 a month. 69.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kewanee | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $73,200 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $797 | $960 |
| Median household income | $50,886 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 69.2% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1948 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Kewanee
| People | Kewanee | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.3 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.1% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.9% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 8.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.3% | — |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 19.4 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.4% | 90.4% |
Weather in Kewanee
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 13.8°F. About 39.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 30.8 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 142 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kewanee since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 19, 1996 about 6.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 10, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 46 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on February 28, 2017.
Severe weather in Henry County since 1996
Henry County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 20, 2024 | Flood | DR-4819: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Floodng |
| 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 Henry County
Henry County had 13,805 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,950 a year. Unemployment was 4.9% in 2023; in Kewanee itself the ACS puts it at 8.9%.
Public schools in Kewanee
8 public schools with 2,413 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kewanee High School | 9-12 | 610 | 17.9 |
| Central Elem | 4-6 | 357 | 11.9 |
| Wethersfield Elem School | PK-6 | 306 | 13.3 |
| Irving Elem School | 2-3 | 249 | 15.6 |
| Belle Alexander Elem School | K-1 | 242 | 14.2 |
| Wethersfield Jr/Sr High School | 7-12 | 233 | 11.7 |
| Central Junior High | 7-8 | 218 | 15.6 |
| Lyle School | PK-PK | 198 | 33.0 |
Towns near Kewanee
- Geneseo, IL18.9 mi · 6,539 people · home $205,400
- Princeton, IL25.9 mi · 7,832 people · home $134,700
- Colona, IL26.6 mi · 5,045 people · home $147,500
- Knoxville, IL29.6 mi · 2,901 people · home $145,300
- Coal Valley, IL30.0 mi · 3,873 people · home $215,700
Kewanee questions
Is Kewanee, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kewanee scores better for retirees than 19% of Illinois towns and quieter than 36%. 24.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.3).
How much does a house cost in Kewanee?
The median owner-occupied home in Kewanee is valued at $73,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,886, so homes cost about 1.4 times income. Median rent is $797 a month.
What is the weather like in Kewanee?
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 13.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.6 inches of precipitation a year and 30.8 inches of snow.
Does Kewanee get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kewanee since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 19, 1996. 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)