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Living in
Morton.
About
Life in Morton
If you're considering Morton, you're looking at a genuinely affordable Midwest community with real job stability and a family-oriented feel that actually delivers on the promise. The median home value hovers around $239,000 and median household income sits at $94,402, which means your dollar stretches further here than in most comparable towns—and the unemployment rate of 4.5% reflects a legitimate job market anchored by major employers like Caterpillar's distribution facility, Libby's pumpkin cannery, and Morton Buildings headquarters. Yes, Morton calls itself the Pumpkin Capital of the World and throws a festival every September, but the real economy here is serious manufacturing and logistics; you're living in a place where advanced manufacturing and distribution actually matter to the local landscape and paychecks.
Morton at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.5%
Foreign-Born
2.3%
Broadband Internet
93.9%
of households
Population Growth
+2.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.3% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Morton: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Morton, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (46.4%), and 0.9% of residents speak Chinese at home.
Under 18
25.9%
of residents
65 and Older
23.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
32.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
30.9%
of households
Married Couples
55.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.38
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 16% below IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Morton
In Morton, rent runs 16% below the IL average, and home values are 9% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
32.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
91.2
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,761
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
79.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1974
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $287,919 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IL
Unemployment in Morton
Unemployment in Tazewell County, which includes Morton, is close to the IL average.
Unemployment rate
Morton: Tazewell County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Tazewell County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Morton Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute16.6 min avg
How Morton residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Morton, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 87% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 13 mi
General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport (PIA)
Regional airport · few flights401k passengers boarded in 2025
- 125 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 71% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Morton runs 71% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
96.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
606.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Morton Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 23 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
84.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Tazewell County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Tazewell County, which includes Morton, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 23 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | $8,000 |
| 2024 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $21,000 |
| 2023 | 21 | Hail | None reported |
| 2022 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $105,000 |
| 2020 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $84,000 |
| 2019 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $129,000 |
| 2018 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $158,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Tazewell County, county-wide
Air Quality45 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Peoria County, IL (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 20 miles from Morton) is typically good — 214 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
45
Good Days
214
per year
Moderate Days
139
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Peoria County, IL (20 mi away)
Climate84°F summers, 20°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Morton has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and cold winters (avg low 20°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/41°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
66°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
37°/20°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
39.3"
Annual Snowfall
23.9"
Hot Days/Year
24
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
134
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
116
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°F | 17°F | 2.05" |
| Feb | 38°F | 21°F | 1.76" |
| Mar | 50°F | 31°F | 2.44" |
| Apr | 63°F | 41°F | 3.77" |
| May | 74°F | 52°F | 4.77" |
| Jun | 83°F | 61°F | 4.05" |
| Jul | 86°F | 65°F | 3.86" |
| Aug | 84°F | 63°F | 3.74" |
| Sep | 80°F | 55°F | 3.21" |
| Oct | 67°F | 43°F | 3.14" |
| Nov | 51°F | 32°F | 2.64" |
| Dec | 39°F | 23°F | 2.04" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Morton
Uninsured
6.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside Morton's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Saint Francis Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.9 mi away · Peoria
Carle Health Methodist Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9 mi away · Peoria
Carle Health Pekin Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.4 mi away · Pekin
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Morton
Morton's student/teacher ratio is 15.5:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 46.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
46.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Morton (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,574 students · in-state tuition $43,850 · 76% graduate · median earnings $76,013 (10 yrs after entry)
Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing
8.9 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 273 students · in-state tuition $22,008 · 89% graduate · median earnings $80,384 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Lincoln Home National Historic Site, 57 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Morton
Morton has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Lincoln Home National Historic Site (57 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Lincoln Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
57 mi awaySpringfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
57 mi awayPublic Libraries in Morton
Morton Public Library District
315 West Pershing Street, Morton
Cities Near Morton
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Morton?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Morton FAQ
Is Morton, Illinois affordable?⌄
Morton's median rent is $1,074/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $94,402/year. Median home value is $239,400.
Is Morton, Illinois safe?⌄
Morton's violent crime rate was 96 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 606 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Morton, Illinois?⌄
Tazewell County, which includes Morton, has an unemployment rate of 4.5%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Morton, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Morton is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,074/month and median household income is $94,402/year. The median home value is $239,400. About 33% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Morton, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Morton is 17 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from