The Town FilesStaunton, Illinois
City in Macoupin County · population 5,054 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $143,500
- Household income
- $57,904
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 42.3
Staunton is a city of 5,054 people in Macoupin County, Illinois. The median home is worth $143,500, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks hipper than 89% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 88% of Illinois towns, more vibrant than 74% of Illinois towns.
How Staunton 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 Staunton is worth $143,500, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $57,904, which is more affordable than 38% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $630 a month. 74.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Staunton | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $143,500 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $630 | $960 |
| Median household income | $57,904 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 74.9% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Staunton
| People | Staunton | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.3% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.1% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.5% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 5.6% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 22.3 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.8% | 90.4% |
Weather in Staunton
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 21.4°F. About 42.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 42 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 100 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Staunton since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 31, 2013 about 8.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 7 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 15, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 72 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 4, 2026.
Severe weather in Macoupin County since 1996
Macoupin County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| October 3, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1800: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| February 9, 2007 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1681: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Macoupin County
Macoupin County had 10,150 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,689 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Staunton itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Public schools in Staunton
3 public schools with 1,190 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staunton Elem School | PK-5 | 547 | 15.2 |
| Staunton High School | 9-12 | 405 | 16.2 |
| Staunton Jr High School | 6-8 | 238 | 13.2 |
Towns near Staunton
- Gillespie, IL8.0 mi · 3,168 people · home $91,000
- Holiday Shores, IL9.9 mi · 2,840 people · home $245,100
- Litchfield, IL13.2 mi · 6,605 people · home $104,200
- Bethalto, IL15.6 mi · 9,310 people · home $168,900
- Rosewood Heights, IL17.4 mi · 3,971 people · home $137,300
- Highland, IL17.6 mi · 9,991 people · home $202,900
- Wood River, IL18.5 mi · 10,464 people · home $108,100
- Edwardsville, IL18.6 mi · 26,808 people · home $299,800
Staunton questions
Is Staunton, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Staunton scores better for retirees than 27% of Illinois towns and quieter than 47%. 24.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.3).
How much does a house cost in Staunton?
The median owner-occupied home in Staunton is valued at $143,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,904, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $630 a month.
What is the weather like in Staunton?
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 21.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.1 inches of precipitation a year and 13.9 inches of snow.
Does Staunton get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Staunton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 31, 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)