The Town FilesMurphysboro, Illinois
City in Jackson County · population 7,093 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $85,900
- Household income
- $44,154
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 39.5
Murphysboro is a city of 7,093 people in Jackson County, Illinois. The median home is worth $85,900, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for a vacation home than 96% of Illinois towns, hipper than 86% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 76% of Illinois towns.
How Murphysboro 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 Murphysboro is worth $85,900, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $44,154, which is more affordable than 68% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $697 a month. 49.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Murphysboro | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $85,900 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $697 | $960 |
| Median household income | $44,154 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 49.8% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Murphysboro
| People | Murphysboro | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.7% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.3% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.9% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 13.4% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 20.8 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.6% | 90.4% |
Weather in Murphysboro
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 24.8°F. About 44.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 9.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 40 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 94 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Murphysboro since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on December 18, 1957 about 9.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 11 deaths and 207 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 1, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 73 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 21, 1971.
Severe weather in Jackson County since 1996
Jackson 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 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| June 7, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1991: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 2, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1850: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Jackson County
Jackson County had 25,266 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,398 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Murphysboro itself the ACS puts it at 5.9%.
Public schools in Murphysboro
14 public schools with 1,930 students, about 12.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murphysboro High School | 9-12 | 604 | 13.4 |
| Murphysboro Middle School | 6-8 | 432 | 12.7 |
| Carruthers Elementary School | 3-5 | 420 | 13.1 |
| Gen John A Logan Attendance Cntr | K-2 | 394 | 12.3 |
| McElvain School | PK-PK | 80 | 80.0 |
| TCSE-MCELVAIN EC | Other | — | — |
| TCSE ASPIRE Academy | K-12 | — | — |
| TCSE Carruthers Elem | Other | — | — |
| Five County Regional Alternative | 6-12 | — | — |
| Jackson/Perry MS TAOEP | 6-8 | — | — |
| Cope Alternative School | 6-12 | — | — |
| Project SOAR | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Murphysboro
- Carbondale, IL6.7 mi · 21,857 people · home $127,900
- Carterville, IL13.5 mi · 5,848 people · home $197,100
- Herrin, IL16.6 mi · 12,352 people · home $113,300
- Du Quoin, IL17.1 mi · 5,827 people · home $83,100
- Christopher, IL20.8 mi · 2,697 people · home $66,600
- Marion, IL21.5 mi · 16,855 people · home $158,300
- Anna, IL21.8 mi · 4,303 people · home $134,300
- Pinckneyville, IL22.0 mi · 5,066 people · home $133,500
Murphysboro questions
Is Murphysboro, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Murphysboro scores better for retirees than 21% of Illinois towns and quieter than 21%. 21.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.5).
How much does a house cost in Murphysboro?
The median owner-occupied home in Murphysboro is valued at $85,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,154, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $697 a month.
What is the weather like in Murphysboro?
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 24.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.0 inches of precipitation a year and 9.9 inches of snow.
Does Murphysboro get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Murphysboro since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on December 18, 1957. 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)