The Town FilesVirden, Illinois
City in Macoupin County · population 3,231 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $101,300
- Household income
- $80,577
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 16 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 38
- Median age
- 36.7
Virden is a city of 3,231 people in Macoupin County, Illinois. The median home is worth $101,300, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more walkable than 76% of Illinois towns.
How Virden 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 Virden is worth $101,300, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.3 times the median household income of $80,577, which is more affordable than 96% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $864 a month. 66.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Virden | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $101,300 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $864 | $960 |
| Median household income | $80,577 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 66.8% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Virden
| People | Virden | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.7 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.7% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.2% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 10.3% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 24.3 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.7% | 90.4% |
Weather in Virden
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 20.9°F. About 38.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 16.1 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 25 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 101 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
38 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Virden since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 19, 2011 about 4.0 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 41 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 19, 1996.
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 Virden itself the ACS puts it at 6.8%.
Public schools in Virden
2 public schools with 716 students, about 15.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Mac High School | 9-12 | 373 | 15.5 |
| North Mac Elementary | PK-2 | 343 | 14.9 |
Towns near Virden
- Auburn, IL5.1 mi · 4,574 people · home $149,600
- Pawnee, IL11.6 mi · 2,678 people · home $149,500
- Chatham, IL12.4 mi · 14,377 people · home $243,200
- Carlinville, IL16.8 mi · 5,710 people · home $105,700
- Springfield, IL20.8 mi · 114,394 people · home $162,100
- Rochester, IL21.1 mi · 3,863 people · home $238,900
- Litchfield, IL23.5 mi · 6,605 people · home $104,200
- Taylorville, IL25.0 mi · 10,506 people · home $104,100
Virden questions
Is Virden, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Virden scores better for retirees than 15% of Illinois towns and quieter than 38%. 16.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.7).
How much does a house cost in Virden?
The median owner-occupied home in Virden is valued at $101,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,577, so homes cost about 1.3 times income. Median rent is $864 a month.
What is the weather like in Virden?
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 20.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.4 inches of precipitation a year and 16.1 inches of snow.
Does Virden get tornadoes?
38 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Virden since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 19, 2011. 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)