The Town FilesMetropolis, Illinois
City in Massac County · population 5,969 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $86,000
- Household income
- $50,399
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 43.5
Metropolis is a city of 5,969 people in Massac County, Illinois. The median home is worth $86,000, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more walkable than 79% of Illinois towns, more vibrant than 70% of Illinois towns.
How Metropolis 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 Metropolis is worth $86,000, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $50,399, which is more affordable than 79% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $752 a month. 61.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Metropolis | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $86,000 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $752 | $960 |
| Median household income | $50,399 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 61.2% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Metropolis
| People | Metropolis | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.5 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.1% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.6% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 8.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 5.4% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 15.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 75.3% | 90.4% |
Weather in Metropolis
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 25.1°F. About 49.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.1 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 42 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 83 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Metropolis since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on November 17, 2013 about 3.3 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 49 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 20, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 46 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 4, 2012.
Severe weather in Massac County since 1996
Massac County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| November 26, 2013 | Tornado | DR-4157: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| June 7, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1991: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 2, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1826: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Massac County
Massac County had 2,858 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,753 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Metropolis itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Public schools in Metropolis
7 public schools with 1,709 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massac County High School | 9-12 | 546 | 12.7 |
| Metropolis Elem School | PK-6 | 490 | 13.2 |
| Massac Jr High School | 7-8 | 285 | 13.6 |
| Franklin Elem School | PK-6 | 150 | 15.0 |
| Jefferson Elem School | K-6 | 124 | 15.5 |
| Maple Grove Elem School | PK-6 | 114 | 10.4 |
| Starquest Acad RSSP South | 6-12 | — | — |
Towns near Metropolis
- Paducah, KY5.9 mi · 27,137 people · home $165,300
- Massac, KY8.1 mi · 4,635 people · home $239,400
- Hendron, KY8.4 mi · 4,774 people · home $213,900
- Farley, KY9.9 mi · 4,374 people · home $86,300
- Reidland, KY13.2 mi · 4,526 people · home $228,000
- Calvert City, KY17.6 mi · 2,514 people · home $165,700
- Benton, KY27.5 mi · 4,756 people · home $157,000
- Mayfield, KY28.6 mi · 10,017 people · home $112,500
Metropolis questions
Is Metropolis, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Metropolis scores better for retirees than 39% of Illinois towns and quieter than 45%. 24.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.5).
How much does a house cost in Metropolis?
The median owner-occupied home in Metropolis is valued at $86,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,399, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $752 a month.
What is the weather like in Metropolis?
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 25.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.1 inches of precipitation a year and 3.1 inches of snow.
Does Metropolis get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Metropolis since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on November 17, 2013. 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)