The Town FilesWashington, Illinois
City in Tazewell County · population 16,071 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $221,900
- Household income
- $95,179
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 51
- Median age
- 38.2
Washington is a city of 16,071 people in Tazewell County, Illinois. The median home is worth $221,900, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more upscale than 84% of Illinois towns, hipper than 72% of Illinois towns, better for young professionals than 71% of Illinois towns.
How Washington 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 is worth $221,900, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $95,179, which is more affordable than 45% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,155 a month. 80.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Washington | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $221,900 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,155 | $960 |
| Median household income | $95,179 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 80.4% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Washington
| People | Washington | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.2 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.3% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.1% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 14.5% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 19.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.8% | 90.4% |
Weather in Washington
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 17.1°F. About 37.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
51 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washington since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 14 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on November 17, 2013 about 0.3 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 195 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 114 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 20, 2022.
Severe weather in Tazewell County since 1996
Tazewell County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Tazewell County
Tazewell County had 46,883 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,089 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Washington itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Public schools in Washington
7 public schools with 4,150 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Comm High School | 9-12 | 1,451 | 16.9 |
| Central Primary Sch | PK-4 | 685 | 16.3 |
| Central Intermediate Sch | 5-8 | 591 | 16.4 |
| Lincoln Grade School | PK-4 | 476 | 14.4 |
| Washington Middle School | 5-8 | 361 | 14.4 |
| Beverly Manor Elementary School | 4-8 | 331 | 12.7 |
| J L Hensey Elem School | PK-3 | 255 | 9.8 |
Towns near Washington
- Germantown Hills, IL4.6 mi · 3,412 people · home $264,900
- East Peoria, IL6.1 mi · 22,484 people · home $163,500
- Morton, IL6.6 mi · 17,117 people · home $239,400
- Metamora, IL7.0 mi · 3,904 people · home $201,800
- Peoria Heights, IL7.7 mi · 5,908 people · home $117,700
- Eureka, IL8.2 mi · 5,227 people · home $154,300
- Creve Coeur, IL10.0 mi · 4,934 people · home $85,500
- Peoria, IL10.1 mi · 113,150 people · home $156,200
Washington questions
Is Washington, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Washington scores better for retirees than 25% of Illinois towns and quieter than 26%. 16.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.2).
How much does a house cost in Washington?
The median owner-occupied home in Washington is valued at $221,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $95,179, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $1,155 a month.
What is the weather like in Washington?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 17.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.5 inches of precipitation a year and 23.9 inches of snow.
Does Washington get tornadoes?
51 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 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)