The Town FilesWashington Park, Illinois
Village in St. Clair County · population 2,592 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $37,500
- Household income
- $38,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 39
- Median age
- 34.2
Washington Park is a village of 2,592 people in St. Clair County, Illinois. The median home is worth $37,500, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks hipper than 74% of Illinois towns.
- #1 in 25 Small Towns in Illinois With the Cheapest Homes
- #3 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Illinois
- #7 in 50 Small Towns in America With the Cheapest Homes
- #7 in 50 Places in America With the Cheapest Homes
- #14 in The 50 Most Affordable Small Towns in America
- #16 in The 50 Most Affordable Places in America
How Washington Park 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 Washington Park is worth $37,500, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.0 times the median household income of $38,750, which is more affordable than 99% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $864 a month. 85.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Washington Park | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $37,500 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $864 | $960 |
| Median household income | $38,750 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 85.4% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1953 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Washington Park
| People | Washington Park | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.2 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.7% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 5.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 35.2% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.4% | — |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 20.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.5% | 90.4% |
Weather in Washington Park
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 24.1°F. About 40.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.8 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 46 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 98 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
39 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washington Park since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 17 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1981 about 6.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 28 deaths and 288 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 186 times; the largest was 3.75 inches on March 14, 2024.
Severe weather in St. Clair County since 1996
St. Clair County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 20, 2024 | Flood | DR-4819: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Floodng |
| October 14, 2022 | Flood | DR-4676: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in St. Clair County
St. Clair County had 89,981 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,001 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Washington Park itself the ACS puts it at 19.9%.
Public schools in Washington Park
5 public schools with 3,049 students, about 12.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| East St Louis Senior High School | 9-12 | 1,261 | 14.8 |
| Mason/Clark Middle Sch | 5-8 | 599 | 11.1 |
| Wyvetter Younge Sch of Excellence | K-8 | 477 | 14.0 |
| Katie Harper-Wright Elem | PK-4 | 383 | 12.0 |
| James Avant Elementary School | K-5 | 329 | 9.1 |
Towns near Washington Park
- East St. Louis, IL2.2 mi · 18,469 people · home $52,600
- Caseyville, IL3.1 mi · 4,400 people · home $96,800
- Madison, IL4.0 mi · 3,171 people · home $58,900
- Fairview Heights, IL5.3 mi · 16,706 people · home $177,700
- Collinsville, IL5.7 mi · 24,366 people · home $163,600
- Pontoon Beach, IL6.7 mi · 5,876 people · home $145,100
- Granite City, IL7.2 mi · 27,549 people · home $104,300
- Swansea, IL7.8 mi · 14,386 people · home $223,600
Washington Park questions
Is Washington Park, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Washington Park scores better for retirees than 9% of Illinois towns and quieter than 58%. 13.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.2).
How much does a house cost in Washington Park?
The median owner-occupied home in Washington Park is valued at $37,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $38,750, so homes cost about 1.0 times income. Median rent is $864 a month.
What is the weather like in Washington Park?
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 24.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.8 inches of precipitation a year and 13.8 inches of snow.
Does Washington Park get tornadoes?
39 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washington Park since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 3, 1981. 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)