The Town FilesSullivan, Illinois
City in Moultrie County · population 4,413 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $102,500
- Household income
- $63,229
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 38.1
Sullivan is a city of 4,413 people in Moultrie County, Illinois. The median home is worth $102,500, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more of a college town than 92% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 84% of Illinois towns, more vibrant than 78% of Illinois towns.
How Sullivan 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 Sullivan is worth $102,500, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $63,229, which is more affordable than 85% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $831 a month. 68.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sullivan | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $102,500 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $831 | $960 |
| Median household income | $63,229 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 68.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Sullivan
| People | Sullivan | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.1 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.5% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.3% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 1.7% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 16.3 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.8% | 90.4% |
Weather in Sullivan
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 18.5°F. About 41.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 122 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sullivan since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 7, 1998 about 9.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 34 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 17, 2026.
Severe weather in Moultrie County since 1996
Moultrie County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Moultrie County
Moultrie County had 5,140 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,569 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Sullivan itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Sullivan
3 public schools with 1,142 students, about 16.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sullivan Elem School | PK-5 | 561 | 17.0 |
| Sullivan High School | 9-12 | 328 | 15.6 |
| Sullivan Middle School | 6-8 | 253 | 15.8 |
Towns near Sullivan
- Mattoon, IL15.4 mi · 16,870 people · home $97,700
- Shelbyville, IL16.3 mi · 4,674 people · home $116,400
- Arcola, IL17.5 mi · 2,927 people · home $124,100
- Mount Zion, IL19.6 mi · 6,019 people · home $201,100
- Tuscola, IL22.5 mi · 4,636 people · home $154,300
- Charleston, IL24.2 mi · 17,286 people · home $137,400
- Decatur, IL25.0 mi · 70,522 people · home $99,600
- Pana, IL29.2 mi · 5,199 people · home $77,900
Sullivan questions
Is Sullivan, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sullivan scores better for retirees than 70% of Illinois towns and quieter than 27%. 17.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.1).
How much does a house cost in Sullivan?
The median owner-occupied home in Sullivan is valued at $102,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,229, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $831 a month.
What is the weather like in Sullivan?
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 18.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.6 inches of precipitation a year and 12.9 inches of snow.
Does Sullivan get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sullivan since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 7, 1998. 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)