The Town FilesMcLeansboro, Illinois
City in Hamilton County · population 2,675 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $79,500
- Household income
- $45,422
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 41.8
McLeansboro is a city of 2,675 people in Hamilton County, Illinois. The median home is worth $79,500, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more of a college town than 96% of Illinois towns, hipper than 84% of Illinois towns, better for first-time buyers than 82% of Illinois towns.
How McLeansboro 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 McLeansboro is worth $79,500, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $45,422, which is more affordable than 74% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $566 a month. 62.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | McLeansboro | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $79,500 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $566 | $960 |
| Median household income | $45,422 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 62.4% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in McLeansboro
| People | McLeansboro | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.2% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.3% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 8.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 0.7% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 25.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.7% | 90.4% |
Weather in McLeansboro
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 22.1°F. About 47.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.3 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 43 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 110 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of McLeansboro since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 19, 1996 about 7.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 19, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 7, 1964.
Severe weather in Hamilton County since 1996
Hamilton County has been included in 10 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 Hamilton County
Hamilton County had 2,057 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,483 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in McLeansboro itself the ACS puts it at 1.2%.
Public schools in McLeansboro
3 public schools with 971 students, about 15.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton County Jr/Sr High School | 7-12 | 472 | 14.8 |
| East Side Elementary School | K-6 | 410 | 15.2 |
| Hamilton County Preschool Center | PK-PK | 89 | 29.7 |
Towns near McLeansboro
- Carmi, IL19.9 mi · 4,865 people · home $114,800
- Eldorado, IL20.0 mi · 3,743 people · home $66,200
- Benton, IL21.3 mi · 6,709 people · home $87,200
- Fairfield, IL22.0 mi · 4,883 people · home $88,800
- Harrisburg, IL24.4 mi · 8,219 people · home $84,100
- West Frankfort, IL25.1 mi · 7,275 people · home $81,200
- Mount Vernon, IL25.7 mi · 14,600 people · home $99,800
- Johnston City, IL28.3 mi · 3,384 people · home $88,100
McLeansboro questions
Is McLeansboro, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, McLeansboro scores better for retirees than 81% of Illinois towns and quieter than 30%. 21.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.8).
How much does a house cost in McLeansboro?
The median owner-occupied home in McLeansboro is valued at $79,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $45,422, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $566 a month.
What is the weather like in McLeansboro?
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 22.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.1 inches of precipitation a year and 13.3 inches of snow.
Does McLeansboro get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of McLeansboro 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)