The Town FilesPontiac, Illinois
City in Livingston County · population 11,150 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $116,300
- Household income
- $61,279
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 25 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 42.8
Pontiac is a city of 11,150 people in Livingston County, Illinois. The median home is worth $116,300, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for cycling than 99% of Illinois towns, hipper than 84% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 74% of Illinois towns.
How Pontiac 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 Pontiac is worth $116,300, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $61,279, which is more affordable than 68% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $842 a month. 63.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pontiac | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $116,300 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $842 | $960 |
| Median household income | $61,279 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 63.2% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Pontiac
| People | Pontiac | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.8 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.3% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.1% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 5.5% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 16.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.6% | 90.4% |
Weather in Pontiac
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 17.2°F. About 37.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 25.1 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 122 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pontiac since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 22, 2016 about 1.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on March 10, 2026.
Severe weather in Livingston County since 1996
Livingston County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 7, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1747: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Livingston County
Livingston County had 13,762 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,455 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Pontiac itself the ACS puts it at 4.2%.
Public schools in Pontiac
6 public schools with 1,761 students, about 12.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pontiac High School | 9-12 | 678 | 14.7 |
| Central Elem School | PK-1 | 341 | 13.6 |
| Pontiac Jr High School | 6-8 | 324 | 12.0 |
| Washington Elem School | 4-5 | 209 | 11.0 |
| Lincoln Elementary School | 2-3 | 209 | 11.0 |
| Livingston Area Career Cntr | 11-12 | — | — |
Towns near Pontiac
- Fairbury, IL11.9 mi · 3,633 people · home $162,200
- Dwight, IL18.4 mi · 4,032 people · home $155,600
- Streator, IL19.0 mi · 12,500 people · home $94,700
- El Paso, IL22.2 mi · 2,756 people · home $159,400
- Marseilles, IL29.7 mi · 4,845 people · home $142,500
Pontiac questions
Is Pontiac, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pontiac scores better for retirees than 52% of Illinois towns and quieter than 35%. 21.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.8).
How much does a house cost in Pontiac?
The median owner-occupied home in Pontiac is valued at $116,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,279, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $842 a month.
What is the weather like in Pontiac?
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 17.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.0 inches of precipitation a year and 25.1 inches of snow.
Does Pontiac get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pontiac since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 22, 2016. 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)