Governor Tanner's Memorial, 2011
Jerome’s story
Jerome in pictures
Census counts: 424 in 1940, 1,692 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2011 and 7 maps from 1907 on.
Explore the history →JeromeIL
A town of 1,627.
Population
1,627
2025 Census estimate · −3% since 2020
Typical home
$162K
+7.2% in a year
Household income
$65K
median
Median age
35.6
years
Jobs based here
277
A commuter town
Is Jerome a good place to live?
The best of Jerome’s subject grades are an A+ for walkability and an A− for cost of living; the weakest is a D− for schools. Only 69 of Illinois’ 1,284 towns score higher on walkability. Jerome’s average trip to work is 20 minutes, below both Illinois’ towns (26 minutes) and U.S. towns (25 minutes). Jerome has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Jerome stand out
Where Jerome beats most towns.
WalkabilityA+
More walkable than 96% of U.S. towns
6.4% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
Typical home value
Jerome$162K
Illinois$296K
Cost of livingA−
2.1 years of income buys a home
More affordable than 78% of U.S. towns
Zillow Home Value Index; area median household income, Census ACS.
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Jerome for work
Where Jerome’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
277jobs based in Jerome
1%of working residents work in town
3 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Jerome grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Illinois), ordered by how far Jerome is from typical.
SchoolsBehind 98% of Illinois districts on tests and graduationD−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 14.8 of 20; 7.9% of households have no carA+Open →Cost of livingA−Open →HealthSt. Johns Hospital 3.3 miles awayCOpen →Jobs & incomeB+Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 44% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsConserved land, trails and parksDOpen →HistoryC−Open →Civic life0 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsCOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market61 days on market–Open →Who lives here30% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 15 attractions →Lincoln Tomb and 10 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Jerome. Close and well known come first.
Big draw4 mi LandmarkLincoln Tomb
3 mi National Historic SiteLincoln Home National Historic Site124K visitors a year3 mi National MonumentSpringfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
3 mi MuseumOld State Capitol State Historic Site
17 mi MuseumLincoln's New Salem
2 mi MuseumIllinois State MuseumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Lincoln Tomb: David Jones, CC BY-SA 2.5 · Lincoln Home National Historic Site: Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Old State Capitol State Historic Site: Shadow2700 at en.wikipedia, Public domain · Lincoln's New Salem: Unknown, CC BY-SA 2.5 · Illinois State Museum: Mike Linksvayer from Oakland, California, CC0
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Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Jerome: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Jerome, and how to reach them.
PowerAmeren Illinois Company16.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterJerome water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Jerome’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Illinois you can register online until 16 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 28 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereSangamon County ClerkSangamon County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP code6270462704 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Jerome.
HousingCost of living grade A−
Jerome’s typical home value is about $162K
The typical Jerome home is worth about $162,000, up 7.2% in a year, 45% below the Illinois typical home. At $951 a month, Jerome’s median rent is where Illinois’ towns sit at $1,129 a month and U.S. towns at $1,185 a month.
$162KZillow home value
| Jerome | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $951 a month | $1,129 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 70% | 75% | 73% |
Typical home value
Jerome$162K
Illinois$296K
Market temperature
61
days on market
102.4%
sale-to-list price
+7.2%
value change, 1 year
6
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B+
Compared with most of Illinois and the rest of the country, fewer of Jerome’s working residents work locally
0.7% of Jerome working residents work locally. Since 2013, Jerome has lost 156 jobs, to 277 in 2023. The median household income in Jerome is $65,000.
1%work in town
| Jerome | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 0.7% | 8.3% | 8% |
| Median household income | $65,000 | $83,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 6.4% | 8.4% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Jerome1%
Springfield64%
Decatur2%
Woodside Township2%
Jacksonville1%
3 mi
median commute distance
277
jobs based in Jerome
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
A+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 96% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HealthC
Jerome is less healthy than 70% of U.S. towns
Jerome beats the Illinois average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 12. 42% of adults have obesity in Jerome.
30%healthier than U.S. townsCHealth Grade
| Jerome | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 42% | 37% | 35% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 13% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 13% | 14% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 17% | 17% |
32 measures vs. Illinois
0 better20 too close to call12 worse
| What stands out | Jerome | IL |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 18.4% | 10.3% |
| More adults with COPD | 9.1% | 6.3% |
| More smokers | 16.3% | 12.1% |
St. Johns Hospital
3.3 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
In Jerome, expect four seasons and pleasant summers
Jerome has chilly winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 86°, January nights drop to 19° and about 22 inches of snow falls in a winter.
22″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter22–38°
Spring43–64°
Summer64–85°
Fall44–66°
Oct 22
typical first frost
Apr 15
typical last frost
+0.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
More young adults than Illinois overall
Adults 18 to 34 are 29% of residents (23% statewide). Jerome’s median age is 35.6 years. Jerome has lost 3% of its people since 2020, down to 1,627 in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate.
35.6median age · IL 39
| Jerome | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.6 years | 40.7 years | 40.5 years |
| Aged 65 or older | 17% | 19% | 18% |
JeromeIllinoisUnited States
Ages · share of residents
19%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma2%
High school30%
Some college26%
Associate’s12%
Bachelor’s23%
Graduate7%
Women and men · all residents
54% women, 46% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±5.5 points. Across Illinois, 50.6% of residents are women.
| Jerome | IL | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 6.7% | 11.5% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 12.3% | 10.4% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 10.5% | 9.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 18.6% | 13.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 13.4% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 9.5% | 12.4% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 12.4% | 12.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 9.6% | 10% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 6.9% | 7% | 7% |
| No diploma | 2.2% | 9.5% | 10.4% |
| High school | 29.6% | 25.1% | 26% |
| Some college | 26.3% | 19.2% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 12.1% | 8.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 22.7% | 22.6% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 7.1% | 15.3% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,600, single groups can be off by several points
Safety
Crime reported in Jerome
Jerome's reported crime rate is well below Illinois's. Most reported incidents are property crimes. No violent crimes were reported in 2024.
| Jerome | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2024) | 0 per 1,000 residents | 1.2 | 1.7 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2024) | 9.2 per 1,000 residents | 9.3 | 11.5 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Jerome0
Illinois2.9
U.S.3.6
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Jerome9.2
Illinois17.7
U.S.17.7
0
violent crimes reported in 2024
15
property crimes reported in 2024
FBI crime data, 2024 · crimes reported to police
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B−
Moderate risk in Jerome, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 56% of U.S. communities. Since 2014, 2 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Jerome.
44risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
2
paid flood claims since 2014
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Jerome
18pages on Jerome
The big questions
SchoolsD−Behind 98% of IL districtsSafety0 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2024)HealthCBetter than IL on 0 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingA−$162K typical home · up 7.2% in a yearWork & commuteB+$65K median household income · 277 jobs hereNatural hazardsB−FEMA risk higher than 44% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
3 within 15 miles of the center of Jerome
St. John's College-Department of NursingUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Springfield3.3 miUniversity of Illinois SpringfieldUniversity or college · Public · Springfield4.2 mi$12,252 in-state tuitionLincoln Land Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Springfield4.8 mi$3,744 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 Jerome residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Illinois.
About Jerome
Village in Illinois, United States
Jerome is a village in Sangamon County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2020 census, Jerome had a population of 1,692. It is part of the Springfield, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 604 ft
- Area code
- 217
Jerome’s neighbors
One town shares a border with Jerome.
Woodside TownshipJerome
How the neighbors grade
| Town | IL rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jerome | — | — | A− | — | D− | C |
| Woodside Township | #372 | B | B+ | — | C− | B+ |
Jerome has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Jerome and Woodside Township report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Jerome with a neighbor →
Questions about Jerome
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Jerome, IL expensive?
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A−.