The Town FilesMorris, Illinois
City in Grundy County · population 14,163 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $247,400
- Household income
- $76,711
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 25 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 40.2
Morris is a city of 14,163 people in Grundy County, Illinois. The median home is worth $247,400, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for cycling than 84% of Illinois towns, better for first-time buyers than 80% of Illinois towns, more vibrant than 74% of Illinois towns.
How Morris 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 Morris is worth $247,400, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $76,711, which is more affordable than 17% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,132 a month. 57.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Morris | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $247,400 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,132 | $960 |
| Median household income | $76,711 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 57.2% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Morris
| People | Morris | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.2 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.2% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.7% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.6% | — |
| Work from home | 11.6% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 21.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.5% | 90.4% |
Weather in Morris
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 15.7°F. About 38.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 24.7 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 127 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Morris since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on June 22, 2015 about 5.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 15, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 10, 2015.
Severe weather in Grundy County since 1996
Grundy County has been included in 15 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 |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Grundy County
Grundy County had 22,349 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $69,868 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Morris itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in Morris
10 public schools with 2,871 students, about 11.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morris Community High School | 9-12 | 930 | 17.2 |
| Saratoga Elem School | PK-8 | 766 | 11.8 |
| White Oak Elementary | PK-5 | 745 | 14.3 |
| Shabbona Middle School | 6-8 | 352 | 14.1 |
| Nettle Creek Elem School | K-8 | 78 | 7.1 |
| Grundy Co SpEd Cooperative | Other | — | — |
| Transition Learning Center of Gru | Other | — | — |
| Grundy Area Vocational Center | 11-12 | — | — |
| Premier Academy Morris | 6-12 | — | — |
| Premier Academy Morris TAOEP | 6-12 | — | — |
Towns near Morris
- Channahon, IL8.9 mi · 13,383 people · home $327,900
- Minooka, IL9.0 mi · 12,758 people · home $315,600
- Coal City, IL10.2 mi · 5,705 people · home $201,600
- Diamond, IL11.1 mi · 2,640 people · home $220,200
- Braidwood, IL12.9 mi · 6,194 people · home $202,500
- Marseilles, IL13.7 mi · 4,845 people · home $142,500
- Wilmington, IL14.3 mi · 5,664 people · home $223,800
- Shorewood, IL14.4 mi · 18,186 people · home $337,800
Morris questions
Is Morris, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Morris scores better for retirees than 56% of Illinois towns and quieter than 25%. 17.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.2).
How much does a house cost in Morris?
The median owner-occupied home in Morris is valued at $247,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,711, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,132 a month.
What is the weather like in Morris?
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 15.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.8 inches of precipitation a year and 24.7 inches of snow.
Does Morris get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Morris since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on June 22, 2015. 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)