The Town FilesTuscola, Illinois
City in Douglas County · population 4,636 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $154,300
- Household income
- $78,179
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 35.7
Tuscola is a city of 4,636 people in Douglas County, Illinois. The median home is worth $154,300, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more of a college town than 98% of Illinois towns, more vibrant than 84% of Illinois towns, hipper than 82% of Illinois towns.
How Tuscola 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 Tuscola is worth $154,300, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $78,179, which is more affordable than 61% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $901 a month. 72.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tuscola | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $154,300 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $901 | $960 |
| Median household income | $78,179 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 72.7% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Tuscola
| People | Tuscola | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.7 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.2% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.1% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 3.5% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 16.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.6% | 90.4% |
Weather in Tuscola
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 18.0°F. About 40.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 16.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 117 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tuscola since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on November 17, 2013 about 3.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 15, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 21, 2014.
Severe weather in Douglas County since 1996
Douglas County has been included in 13 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 |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Douglas County
Douglas County had 7,643 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,270 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Tuscola itself the ACS puts it at 1.1%.
Public schools in Tuscola
3 public schools with 900 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Ward Elementary School | PK-4 | 326 | 12.1 |
| Tuscola High School | 9-12 | 296 | 12.9 |
| East Prairie Middle School | 5-8 | 278 | 12.6 |
Towns near Tuscola
- Arcola, IL7.9 mi · 2,927 people · home $124,100
- Tolono, IL13.5 mi · 3,604 people · home $208,600
- Savoy, IL18.2 mi · 8,857 people · home $320,300
- Champaign, IL22.0 mi · 88,302 people · home $210,900
- Urbana, IL22.1 mi · 38,336 people · home $184,900
- Charleston, IL22.1 mi · 17,286 people · home $137,400
- Mattoon, IL22.5 mi · 16,870 people · home $97,700
- Sullivan, IL22.5 mi · 4,413 people · home $102,500
Tuscola questions
Is Tuscola, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tuscola scores better for retirees than 22% of Illinois towns and quieter than 21%. 16.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.7).
How much does a house cost in Tuscola?
The median owner-occupied home in Tuscola is valued at $154,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $78,179, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $901 a month.
What is the weather like in Tuscola?
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 18.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.5 inches of precipitation a year and 16.9 inches of snow.
Does Tuscola get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tuscola since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 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)