“Big Inch” opening, 1943
Norris City’s story
155 years in pictures
Census counts: 40 in 1880, 1,145 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 1943 and 2 maps from 1905 on.
- 1871Norris City is settled
Norris CityIL
A town of 1,083, settled in 1871.
Population
1,083
2025 Census estimate · −4.7% since 2020
Typical home
$135K
+18.8% in a year
Household income
$42K
median
Median age
30.9
years
Jobs based here
390
Balanced
Is Norris City a good place to live?
The best of Norris City’s subject grades are an A+ for safety and an A for cost of living; the weakest is a D for incomes. 33% of residents are under 18 in Norris City, against 22% in Illinois’ towns and 22% across U.S. towns. Only 1 of Illinois’ 405 towns score higher on safety. Norris City's public schools trail 85% of Illinois towns on state tests and graduation. On the outdoors, just 50 of Illinois’ 1,285 towns do worse. Norris City has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Norris City stand out
Where Norris City beats most towns.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Norris City0
Illinois2.6
U.S.3.3
SafetyA+
No violent crime reported in 2025
Less crime per resident than 99% of U.S. towns
FBI data, 2025. Crimes reported to police.
Typical home value
Norris City$135K
Illinois$296K
Cost of livingA
2.5 years of income buys a home
More affordable than 95% of U.S. towns
Zillow Home Value Index; area median household income, Census ACS.
Small town
1,083 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
How Norris City grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Illinois), ordered by how far Norris City is from typical.
SafetyLess crime per resident than almost any U.S. townA+Open →Cost of livingAOpen →Jobs & income$42K median household incomeDOpen →SchoolsC−Open →Hazard riskearthquakes tops the listC−Open →HealthLess healthy than 76% of U.S. towns; Ferrell Hospital Community Foundations 12.9 miles awayC−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 8.3 of 20; 14.9% of households have no car; 2.5% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsConserved land, trails and parksD−Open →HistoryCOpen →Civic life3 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 30.9; 11% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Norris City: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Norris City, and how to reach them.
PowerAmeren Illinois Company16.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterNorris City water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Norris City’s trash rules yet
SchoolsNorris City-Omaha-Enfield Community Unit School District 3Which school depends on your addressNCES
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 hereWhite County ClerkWhite County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP code6286962869 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 Norris City.
SafetyA+
Property crime in Norris City is lower than in the typical Illinois or U.S. town
At 0 per 1,000 residents, Norris City’s property crime rate is where Illinois’ towns sit at 7.9 and U.S. towns at 9.9. Norris City reports less crime per resident than 100% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.
99%of U.S. towns report more crimeA+Safety Grade
| Norris City | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0 per 1,000 residents | 7.9 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0 per 1,000 residents | 1 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Norris City0
Illinois2.6
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Norris City0
Illinois15.6
U.S.15.5
99th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
0
violent crimes reported in 2025
0
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
HousingCost of living grade A
A typical Norris City home is worth about $135K
The typical Norris City home is worth about $135,000, up 18.8% in a year, 54% below the Illinois typical home. Norris City’s median rent is $711 a month.
$135KZillow home value
| Norris City | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $711 a month | $1,129 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 72% | 75% | 73% |
Typical home value
Norris City$135K
Illinois$296K
+18.8%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
HealthC−
Norris City stands out in Illinois and nationally: a larger share of its adults have been diagnosed with depression
24% of Norris City adults have been diagnosed with depression. Norris City beats the Illinois average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 14. 39% of Norris City adults have high blood pressure.
24%healthier than U.S. townsC−Health Grade
| Norris City | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 13% | 14% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 13% | 14% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 17% | 17% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 35% | 35% |
32 measures vs. Illinois
0 better18 too close to call14 worse
| What stands out | Norris City | IL |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 17.7% | 10.3% |
| More adults with COPD | 10.2% | 6.3% |
| More smokers | 17.5% | 12.1% |
Ferrell Hospital Community Foundations
12.9 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C−
Norris City faces a high natural-hazard risk, led by earthquakes
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 73% of U.S. communities.
73risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
EarthquakesInland floodingTornadoes
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Norris City
Norris City has chilly winters and warm summers. The July high in Norris City is 88°F.
12″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter27–44°
Spring46–67°
Summer66–87°
Fall47–69°
Oct 19
typical first frost
Apr 15
typical last frost
+0.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D
Most working residents commute out of Norris City
Most working residents leave Norris City for work: only 7% work in town. 15% of residents live below the poverty line in Norris City. Since 2013, Norris City has lost 62 jobs, to 390 in 2023.
7%work in town
| Norris City | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $42,000 | $83,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 15% | 8.4% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 28 minutes | 26 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Norris City7%
Carmi13%
Harrisburg5%
Black Township5%
Evansville4%
23 mi
median commute distance
390
jobs based in Norris City
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
B+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 68% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Norris City
18pages on Norris City
The big questions
SchoolsC−Behind 85% of IL districtsSafetyA+0 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthC−Better than IL on 0 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingA$135K typical home · up 18.8% in a yearWork & commuteD$42K median household income · 390 jobs hereNatural hazardsC−FEMA risk higher than 73% of U.S. communities · earthquakes
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Norris City; the nearest are
Southeastern Illinois CollegeCommunity college · Public · Harrisburg16.8 mi$4,560 in-state tuitionUniversity of Southern IndianaUniversity or college · Public · Evansville, IN35.5 mi$10,066 in-state tuition
About 7 of every 100 Norris City residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Illinois.
A shrinking town
Norris City has shrunk 14% since 2010
1,275 counted in 2010 and 1,145 in 2020; an estimated 1,083 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
About Norris City
Village in Illinois, United States
Norris City is a village in White County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,145 according to 2020 census data.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1901
- Area
- 1.2 sq mi
- Elevation
- 420 ft
- ZIP code
- 62869
Questions about Norris City
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Norris City, 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.