The Town FilesPekin, Illinois
City in Tazewell County · population 31,731 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $120,700
- Household income
- $60,790
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 41.9
Pekin is a city of 31,731 people in Tazewell County, Illinois. The median home is worth $120,700, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks hipper than 93% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 88% of Illinois towns, more vibrant than 85% of Illinois towns.
How Pekin 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 Pekin is worth $120,700, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $60,790, which is more affordable than 61% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $819 a month. 68.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pekin | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $120,700 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $819 | $960 |
| Median household income | $60,790 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 68.4% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Pekin
| People | Pekin | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.9 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.4% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.8% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 7.4% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 21.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.9% | 90.4% |
Weather in Pekin
July highs average 86.3°F and January lows 17.6°F. About 37.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.2 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 23 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 118 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pekin since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on November 17, 2013 about 4.7 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 192 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 115 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on December 8, 1991.
Severe weather in Tazewell County since 1996
Tazewell 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 Tazewell County
Tazewell County had 46,883 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,089 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Pekin itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.
Public schools in Pekin
15 public schools with 5,112 students, about 14.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pekin Community High School | 9-12 | 1,737 | 15.2 |
| Wilson Intermediate School | 4-6 | 585 | 15.0 |
| Washington Intermediate School | 4-6 | 408 | 13.2 |
| Broadmoor Junior High School | 7-8 | 377 | 12.6 |
| Edison Junior High School | 7-8 | 311 | 12.4 |
| Jefferson Elem School | K-3 | 304 | 16.0 |
| C B Smith Elem School | K-3 | 282 | 16.6 |
| Pekin Preschool Family Ed Center | PK-PK | 214 | 23.8 |
| Willow Elem School | K-3 | 209 | 14.9 |
| Rankin Elem School | K-8 | 198 | 11.0 |
| Scott Altman Primary School | K-3 | 185 | 16.8 |
| Dirksen Elementary School | K-3 | 176 | 17.6 |
Towns near Pekin
- Marquette Heights, IL3.6 mi · 2,541 people · home $123,800
- Creve Coeur, IL4.9 mi · 4,934 people · home $85,500
- Bartonville, IL5.4 mi · 5,945 people · home $139,100
- East Peoria, IL8.4 mi · 22,484 people · home $163,500
- Morton, IL8.8 mi · 17,117 people · home $239,400
- West Peoria, IL8.9 mi · 4,263 people · home $93,900
- Peoria Heights, IL12.6 mi · 5,908 people · home $117,700
- Peoria, IL12.6 mi · 113,150 people · home $156,200
Pekin questions
Is Pekin, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pekin scores better for retirees than 18% of Illinois towns and quieter than 25%. 19.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.9).
How much does a house cost in Pekin?
The median owner-occupied home in Pekin is valued at $120,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,790, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $819 a month.
What is the weather like in Pekin?
July highs average 86.3°F and January lows 17.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.5 inches of precipitation a year and 26.2 inches of snow.
Does Pekin get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pekin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 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)