The Town FilesOlney, Illinois
City in Richland County · population 8,701 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $99,800
- Household income
- $59,980
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 41.0
Olney is a city of 8,701 people in Richland County, Illinois. The median home is worth $99,800, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks hipper than 88% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 86% of Illinois towns, better for cycling than 85% of Illinois towns.
How Olney 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 Olney is worth $99,800, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $59,980, which is more affordable than 79% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $809 a month. 65.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Olney | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $99,800 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $809 | $960 |
| Median household income | $59,980 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 65.4% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Olney
| People | Olney | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.0 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.6% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.2% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 9.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 17.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.4% | 90.4% |
Weather in Olney
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 20.8°F. About 48.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.5 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 105 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Olney since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 2, 1990 about 0.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 29, 2023.
Severe weather in Richland County since 1996
Richland County has been included in 8 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 |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| February 1, 2005 | Snowstorm | EM-3199: Record/Near Record Snow |
Jobs and pay in Richland County
Richland County had 5,834 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,035 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Olney itself the ACS puts it at 4.7%.
Public schools in Olney
4 public schools with 2,182 students, about 15.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richland County Elementary School | K-5 | 915 | 15.3 |
| Richland County High School | 9-12 | 661 | 15.0 |
| Richland County Middle School | 6-8 | 445 | 14.4 |
| Richland County Erly Childhd Ctr | PK-PK | 161 | 20.1 |
Towns near Olney
- Sumner, IL11.8 mi · 2,631 people · home $46,000
- Newton, IL18.4 mi · 2,777 people · home $95,400
- Lawrenceville, IL21.4 mi · 4,164 people · home $71,300
- Flora, IL21.4 mi · 4,803 people · home $77,300
- Robinson, IL27.0 mi · 7,150 people · home $109,100
- Mount Carmel, IL27.3 mi · 7,015 people · home $89,300
- Fairfield, IL28.6 mi · 4,883 people · home $88,800
Olney questions
Is Olney, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Olney scores better for retirees than 21% of Illinois towns and quieter than 15%. 21.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.0).
How much does a house cost in Olney?
The median owner-occupied home in Olney is valued at $99,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,980, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $809 a month.
What is the weather like in Olney?
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 20.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.8 inches of precipitation a year and 10.5 inches of snow.
Does Olney get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Olney since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 2, 1990. 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)