The Town FilesMorrison, Illinois
City in Whiteside County · population 4,085 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $118,000
- Household income
- $69,089
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 41.4
Morrison is a city of 4,085 people in Whiteside County, Illinois. The median home is worth $118,000, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for retirees than 83% of Illinois towns, easier by car than 76% of Illinois towns.
How Morrison 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 Morrison is worth $118,000, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $69,089, which is more affordable than 79% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $760 a month. 78.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Morrison | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $118,000 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $760 | $960 |
| Median household income | $69,089 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 78.1% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Morrison
| People | Morrison | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.4 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.7% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.1% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 7.1% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 18.0 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.6% | 90.4% |
Weather in Morrison
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 12.0°F. About 38.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.5 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 145 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Morrison since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 29, 1981 about 5.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 20, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 19, 1964.
Severe weather in Whiteside County since 1996
Whiteside County has been included in 14 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 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 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 Whiteside County
Whiteside County had 21,197 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,164 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Morrison itself the ACS puts it at 2.3%.
Public schools in Morrison
9 public schools with 985 students, about 14.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morrison High School | 9-12 | 290 | 15.3 |
| Northside School | PK-2 | 263 | 16.4 |
| Southside School | 3-5 | 218 | 16.8 |
| Morrison Jr High School | 6-8 | 214 | 14.3 |
| Morrison Alt Learning Program | 9-12 | — | — |
| Bi-County Sp Ed-Life Skill Jr Hgh | Other | — | — |
| Bi-County Sp Ed-K-2 Life Skills-M | Other | — | — |
| Bi-County Sp Ed-3-5 Life Skills-M | Other | — | — |
| Bi-County Sp Ed-Life Skills HS-Mo | Other | — | — |
Towns near Morrison
- Fulton, IL10.9 mi · 3,647 people · home $121,700
- Sterling, IL13.7 mi · 14,764 people · home $108,700
- Rock Falls, IL14.0 mi · 8,789 people · home $83,900
- Clinton, IA14.7 mi · 24,469 people · home $118,200
- Camanche, IA16.2 mi · 4,570 people · home $172,400
- Savanna, IL21.8 mi · 2,783 people · home $72,400
- Dixon, IL25.0 mi · 15,274 people · home $120,800
- Le Claire, IA26.0 mi · 4,710 people · home $318,700
Morrison questions
Is Morrison, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Morrison scores better for retirees than 83% of Illinois towns and quieter than 69%. 21.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.4).
How much does a house cost in Morrison?
The median owner-occupied home in Morrison is valued at $118,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,089, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $760 a month.
What is the weather like in Morrison?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 12.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.3 inches of precipitation a year and 31.5 inches of snow.
Does Morrison get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Morrison since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 29, 1981. 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)