The Town FilesPittsfield, Illinois
City in Pike County · population 4,206 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $111,400
- Household income
- $54,643
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 16 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 43.3
Pittsfield is a city of 4,206 people in Pike County, Illinois. The median home is worth $111,400, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for a vacation home than 97% of Illinois towns, better for cycling than 97% of Illinois towns, hipper than 96% of Illinois towns.
How Pittsfield 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 Pittsfield is worth $111,400, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $54,643, which is more affordable than 61% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $705 a month. 74.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pittsfield | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $111,400 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $705 | $960 |
| Median household income | $54,643 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 74.5% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in Pittsfield
| People | Pittsfield | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.3 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.4% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.3% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.9% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 2.3% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 16.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.0% | 90.4% |
Weather in Pittsfield
July highs average 87.5°F and January lows 18.5°F. About 40.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 15.6 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 31 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 119 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pittsfield since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 24, 1961 about 4.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 1, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 14, 2002.
Severe weather in Pike County since 1996
Pike County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4728: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| December 13, 2021 | Tornado | EM-3577: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Pike County
Pike County had 3,881 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,124 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Pittsfield itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Pittsfield
4 public schools with 1,196 students, about 14.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pikeland Community School | 3-8 | 490 | 13.6 |
| Pittsfield South Elem School | PK-2 | 354 | 17.7 |
| Pittsfield High School | 9-12 | 352 | 12.6 |
| PACE Alternative School | 6-12 | — | — |
Towns near Pittsfield
- Louisiana, MO17.4 mi · 3,199 people · home $72,100
- Bowling Green, MO27.4 mi · 4,195 people · home $128,800
Pittsfield questions
Is Pittsfield, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pittsfield scores better for retirees than 81% of Illinois towns and quieter than 70%. 24.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.3).
How much does a house cost in Pittsfield?
The median owner-occupied home in Pittsfield is valued at $111,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,643, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $705 a month.
What is the weather like in Pittsfield?
July highs average 87.5°F and January lows 18.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.5 inches of precipitation a year and 15.6 inches of snow.
Does Pittsfield get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pittsfield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 24, 1961. 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)