The Town FilesLitchfield, Illinois
City in Montgomery County · population 6,605 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $104,200
- Household income
- $53,958
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 35
- Median age
- 43.7
Litchfield is a city of 6,605 people in Montgomery County, Illinois. The median home is worth $104,200, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for cycling than 97% of Illinois towns, hipper than 86% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 79% of Illinois towns.
How Litchfield 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 Litchfield is worth $104,200, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $53,958, which is more affordable than 68% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $675 a month. 66.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Litchfield | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $104,200 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $675 | $960 |
| Median household income | $53,958 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 66.2% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Litchfield
| People | Litchfield | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.7 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.6% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.3% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 18.8 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.0% | 90.4% |
Weather in Litchfield
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 21.4°F. About 42.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 42 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 100 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Litchfield since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 1, 1999 about 10.0 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 10 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 15, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 59 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 28, 2011.
Severe weather in Montgomery County since 1996
Montgomery County has been included in 7 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 Montgomery County
Montgomery County had 8,783 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $83,351 a year. Unemployment was 5.1% in 2023; in Litchfield itself the ACS puts it at 6.4%.
Public schools in Litchfield
8 public schools with 1,300 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Litchfield Senior High School | 9-12 | 393 | 13.6 |
| Litchfield Elem School | 2-5 | 344 | 13.2 |
| Litchfield Middle School | 6-8 | 271 | 12.3 |
| Madison Park Elem School | K-1 | 196 | 13.1 |
| Litchfield Prekindergarten | PK-PK | 96 | 24.0 |
| Phoenix Safe Schools Program | 6-9 | — | — |
| Revive Alternative High School | 9-12 | — | — |
| S Cen Il Reg Workforce Trng | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Litchfield
- Gillespie, IL8.9 mi · 3,168 people · home $91,000
- Hillsboro, IL10.3 mi · 5,902 people · home $111,700
- Staunton, IL13.2 mi · 5,054 people · home $143,500
- Carlinville, IL13.3 mi · 5,710 people · home $105,700
- Holiday Shores, IL22.6 mi · 2,840 people · home $245,100
- Virden, IL23.5 mi · 3,231 people · home $101,300
- Greenville, IL24.9 mi · 7,083 people · home $122,000
- Bethalto, IL27.8 mi · 9,310 people · home $168,900
Litchfield questions
Is Litchfield, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Litchfield scores better for retirees than 28% of Illinois towns and quieter than 42%. 24.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.7).
How much does a house cost in Litchfield?
The median owner-occupied home in Litchfield is valued at $104,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,958, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $675 a month.
What is the weather like in Litchfield?
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 21.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.1 inches of precipitation a year and 13.9 inches of snow.
Does Litchfield get tornadoes?
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Litchfield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 1, 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)