The Town Files

25 Small Towns in Illinois With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950

Ranked by tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950 among 238 towns of 500–10,000 people in Illinois. #1 is Marshall, IL (7 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950).

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Numbers match the ranking.

  1. 25Dwight, Illinois

    15 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Dwight is a village of 4,032 people in Livingston County, Illinois. 15 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Illinois town: 27); the strongest was an EF3 on June 5, 2010.

    4,032 people · Livingston County · median home $155,600 · income $71,184 · Jan low 14°F · 23 in snow

    Full Dwight, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Dwight by decade2'501'602'702'80'903'004'101'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  2. 24Sullivan, Illinois

    15 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Sullivan is a city of 4,413 people in Moultrie County, Illinois. 15 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Illinois town: 27); the strongest was an F2 on April 7, 1998.

    4,413 people · Moultrie County · median home $102,500 · income $63,229 · Jan low 19°F · 13 in snow

    Full Sullivan, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Sullivan by decade1'50'60'701'804'903'001'105'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  3. 23Lincolnshire, Illinois

    15 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Lincolnshire, Illinois
    Photo: Racaris (public domain, Wikimedia Commons)

    Lincolnshire is a village of 7,940 people in Lake County, Illinois. 15 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Illinois town: 27); the strongest was an F4 on September 28, 1972.

    7,940 people · Lake County · median home $677,700 · income $185,580 · Jan low 18°F · 34 in snow

    Full Lincolnshire, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Lincolnshire by decade1'504'606'70'801'90'001'102'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  4. 22Rochelle, Illinois

    15 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Rochelle is a city of 9,446 people in Ogle County, Illinois. 15 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Illinois town: 27); the strongest was an EF4 on April 9, 2015.

    9,446 people · Ogle County · median home $164,300 · income $66,307 · Jan low 12°F · 28 in snow

    Full Rochelle, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Rochelle by decade1'501'602'70'801'902'003'105'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  5. 21Lena, Illinois

    14 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Lena is a village of 2,772 people in Stephenson County, Illinois. 14 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Illinois town: 27); the strongest was an EF2 on April 17, 2026.

    2,772 people · Stephenson County · median home $146,000 · income $72,663 · Jan low 12°F · 36 in snow

    Full Lena, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Lena by decade1'501'60'70'803'901'003'105'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  6. 20Knoxville, Illinois

    14 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Knoxville is a city of 2,901 people in Knox County, Illinois. 14 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Illinois town: 27); the strongest was an F3 on June 14, 1974.

    2,901 people · Knox County · median home $145,300 · income $82,863 · Jan low 14°F · 25 in snow

    Full Knoxville, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Knoxville by decade'503'603'701'802'901'003'101'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  7. 19Carmi, Illinois

    14 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Carmi, Illinois
    Photo: Nyttend (public domain, Wikimedia Commons)

    Carmi is a city of 4,865 people in White County, Illinois. 14 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Illinois town: 27); the strongest was an EF3 on February 28, 2017.

    4,865 people · White County · median home $114,800 · income $47,827 · Jan low 21°F · 12 in snow

    Full Carmi, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Carmi by decade'501'601'70'802'901'007'102'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  8. 18Carlinville, Illinois

    14 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Carlinville is a city of 5,710 people in Macoupin County, Illinois. 14 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Illinois town: 27); the strongest was an F2 on May 12, 1978.

    5,710 people · Macoupin County · median home $105,700 · income $57,708 · Jan low 19°F · 17 in snow

    Full Carlinville, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Carlinville by decade'503'601'70'803'902'002'103'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  9. 17Johnsburg, Illinois

    14 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Johnsburg is a village of 6,355 people in McHenry County, Illinois. 14 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Illinois town: 27); the strongest was an F4 on April 21, 1967.

    6,355 people · McHenry County · median home $328,300 · income $121,023 · Jan low 13°F · 35 in snow

    Full Johnsburg, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Johnsburg by decade3'504'60'702'801'90'001'103'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  10. 16Benton, Illinois

    14 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Benton is a city of 6,709 people in Franklin County, Illinois. 14 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Illinois town: 27); the strongest was an EF3 on February 28, 2017.

    6,709 people · Franklin County · median home $87,200 · income $54,123 · Jan low 22°F · 10 in snow

    Full Benton, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Benton by decade1'502'60'702'80'902'005'102'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  11. 15Hampshire, Illinois

    14 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Hampshire is a village of 7,667 people in Kane County, Illinois. 14 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Illinois town: 27); the strongest was an F4 on April 11, 1965.

    7,667 people · Kane County · median home $329,800 · income $94,773 · Jan low 13°F · 34 in snow

    Full Hampshire, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Hampshire by decade'502'603'701'801'90'00'107'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  12. 14Kenilworth, Illinois

    13 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Kenilworth, Illinois
    Photo: architect George W. Maher, photographer Henry Fuerman (public domain, Wikimedia Commons)

    Kenilworth is a village of 2,514 people in Cook County, Illinois. 13 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Illinois town: 27); the strongest was an F2 on March 12, 1976.

    2,514 people · Cook County · median home $1,560,300 · income $250,001 · Jan low 16°F · 34 in snow

    Full Kenilworth, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Kenilworth by decade3'50'606'701'801'90'00'102'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  13. 13Galena, Illinois

    13 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Galena is a city of 3,308 people in Jo Daviess County, Illinois. 13 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Illinois town: 27); the strongest was an F2 on May 15, 1998.

    3,308 people · Jo Daviess County · median home $233,200 · income $58,689 · Jan low 10°F · 38 in snow

    Full Galena, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Galena by decade'501'605'70'802'901'002'102'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  14. 12Wonder Lake, Illinois

    13 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Wonder Lake is a village of 3,973 people in McHenry County, Illinois. 13 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Illinois town: 27); the strongest was an F4 on April 21, 1967.

    3,973 people · McHenry County · median home $252,200 · income $94,655 · Jan low 13°F · 35 in snow

    Full Wonder Lake, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Wonder Lake by decade3'505'60'701'80'901'002'101'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  15. 11Green Oaks, Illinois

    13 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Green Oaks is a village of 4,128 people in Lake County, Illinois. 13 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Illinois town: 27); the strongest was an F4 on September 28, 1972.

    4,128 people · Lake County · median home $673,100 · income $147,614 · Jan low 16°F · 43 in snow

    Full Green Oaks, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Green Oaks by decade3'502'602'70'801'90'002'103'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  16. 10Lakewood, Illinois

    13 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Lakewood is a village of 4,283 people in McHenry County, Illinois. 13 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Illinois town: 27); the strongest was an F4 on April 21, 1967.

    4,283 people · McHenry County · median home $552,600 · income $173,625 · Jan low 14°F · 35 in snow

    Full Lakewood, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Lakewood by decade'506'601'701'801'901'00'103'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  17. 9Shelbyville, Illinois

    13 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Shelbyville, Illinois
    Photo: Nyttend (public domain, Wikimedia Commons)

    Shelbyville is a city of 4,674 people in Shelby County, Illinois. 13 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Illinois town: 27); the strongest was an F3 on August 21, 1977.

    4,674 people · Shelby County · median home $116,400 · income $52,470 · Jan low 19°F · 14 in snow

    Full Shelbyville, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Shelbyville by decade'501'602'70'802'906'002'10'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  18. 8Winthrop Harbor, Illinois

    13 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Winthrop Harbor is a village of 6,705 people in Lake County, Illinois. 13 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Illinois town: 27); the strongest was an F4 on September 28, 1972.

    6,705 people · Lake County · median home $250,800 · income $95,690 · Jan low 16°F · 36 in snow

    Full Winthrop Harbor, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Winthrop Harbor by decade1'502'603'70'803'902'001'101'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  19. 7Savanna, Illinois

    12 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Savanna is a city of 2,783 people in Carroll County, Illinois. 12 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Illinois town: 27); the strongest was an F3 on January 24, 1967.

    2,783 people · Carroll County · median home $72,400 · income $48,036 · Jan low 11°F · 33 in snow

    Full Savanna, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Savanna by decade2'503'601'70'801'901'002'102'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  20. 6Sumner, Illinois

    11 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Sumner is a city of 2,631 people in Lawrence County, Illinois. 11 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Illinois town: 27); the strongest was an F3 on April 1, 1974.

    2,631 people · Lawrence County · median home $46,000 · income $55,625 · Jan low 21°F · 16 in snow

    Full Sumner, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Sumner by decade5'501'602'70'80'90'00'103'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  21. 5Princeton, Illinois

    11 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Princeton is a city of 7,832 people in Bureau County, Illinois. 11 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Illinois town: 27); the strongest was an EF1 on June 22, 2016.

    7,832 people · Bureau County · median home $134,700 · income $61,946 · Jan low 14°F · 29 in snow

    Full Princeton, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Princeton by decade'501'603'70'801'903'002'101'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  22. 4Highwood, Illinois

    10 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Highwood is a city of 5,074 people in Lake County, Illinois. 10 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Illinois town: 27); the strongest was an F4 on September 28, 1972.

    5,074 people · Lake County · median home $405,400 · income $107,875 · Jan low 16°F · 34 in snow

    Full Highwood, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Highwood by decade1'501'605'70'801'90'00'102'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  23. 3Lake Bluff, Illinois

    10 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Lake Bluff is a village of 5,616 people in Lake County, Illinois. 10 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Illinois town: 27); the strongest was an F4 on September 28, 1972.

    5,616 people · Lake County · median home $776,700 · income $204,000 · Jan low 16°F · 39 in snow

    Full Lake Bluff, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Lake Bluff by decade3'501'601'70'801'90'002'102'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  24. 2McLeansboro, Illinois

    7 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    McLeansboro, Illinois
    Photo: Nyttend (public domain, Wikimedia Commons)

    McLeansboro is a city of 2,675 people in Hamilton County, Illinois. 7 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Illinois town: 27); the strongest was an F3 on April 19, 1996.

    2,675 people · Hamilton County · median home $79,500 · income $45,422 · Jan low 22°F · 13 in snow

    Full McLeansboro, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of McLeansboro by decade1'502'60'70'802'90'002'10'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  25. 1Marshall, Illinois

    7 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Marshall, Illinois
    Photo: Wikimedia Commons (public domain, Wikimedia Commons)

    Marshall is a city of 3,947 people in Clark County, Illinois. 7 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Illinois town: 27); the strongest was an EF2 on April 2, 2025.

    3,947 people · Clark County · median home $118,500 · income $76,250 · Jan low 17°F · 15 in snow

    Full Marshall, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Marshall by decade'50'601'701'801'90'00'104'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

More Illinois rankings

Same ranking, other places

Methodology. We ranked 238 towns of 500–10,000 people in Illinois (2020 Census population). Only towns better than 60% of their peers on this measure qualify, so lists can be shorter than 25. Sources: