The Town FilesMattoon, Illinois
City in Coles County · population 16,870 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $97,700
- Household income
- $51,597
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 15 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 40.8
Mattoon is a city of 16,870 people in Coles County, Illinois. The median home is worth $97,700, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks hipper than 94% of Illinois towns, better for cycling than 92% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 80% of Illinois towns.
How Mattoon 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 Mattoon is worth $97,700, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $51,597, which is more affordable than 68% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $740 a month. 55.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mattoon | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $97,700 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $740 | $960 |
| Median household income | $51,597 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 55.8% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Mattoon
| People | Mattoon | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.8 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.3% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.3% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 4.6% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 18.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.3% | 90.4% |
Weather in Mattoon
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 20.2°F. About 41.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.5 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 23 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 108 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mattoon since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 17, 2026 about 3.7 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 50 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 17, 2026.
Severe weather in Coles County since 1996
Coles County has been included in 9 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 |
| 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 |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Coles County
Coles County had 23,930 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,987 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Mattoon itself the ACS puts it at 6.5%.
Public schools in Mattoon
9 public schools with 3,075 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mattoon High School | 9-12 | 952 | 17.0 |
| Arland D Williams Jr Elem Sch | K-5 | 716 | 15.9 |
| Mattoon Middle School | 6-8 | 621 | 12.2 |
| Riddle Elementary School | K-5 | 569 | 12.9 |
| Franklin Elementary School | PK-PK | 217 | 43.4 |
| Eastern IL EFE System | 9-12 | — | — |
| Adult LIFE Academy | Other | — | — |
| LIFT | 11-12 | — | — |
| LIFE Academy | PK-12 | — | — |
Towns near Mattoon
- Charleston, IL9.9 mi · 17,286 people · home $137,400
- Arcola, IL14.6 mi · 2,927 people · home $124,100
- Sullivan, IL15.4 mi · 4,413 people · home $102,500
- Tuscola, IL22.5 mi · 4,636 people · home $154,300
- Shelbyville, IL23.8 mi · 4,674 people · home $116,400
- Effingham, IL26.7 mi · 12,252 people · home $177,500
Mattoon questions
Is Mattoon, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mattoon scores better for retirees than 41% of Illinois towns and quieter than 29%. 19.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.8).
How much does a house cost in Mattoon?
The median owner-occupied home in Mattoon is valued at $97,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,597, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $740 a month.
What is the weather like in Mattoon?
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 20.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.3 inches of precipitation a year and 14.5 inches of snow.
Does Mattoon get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mattoon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 17, 2026. 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)