Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 1,172, settled in 1844.
Toulon’s best subject grades are an A+ for cost of living, safety, and civic life; its weakest is a C− for walkability. On cost of living, just 4 of Illinois’ 1,284 towns do better. On civic life, just 43 of Illinois’ 1,240 towns do better. Toulon has 1 place on the National Register. Only 108 of Illinois’ 1,285 towns score lower on the outdoors. Toulon has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
Where Toulon beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Illinois), ordered by how far Toulon is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 904 in 1870, 1,193 in 2020. The archive holds 12 old photos and papers going back to 1907 and 2 maps from 1944 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Toulon, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
Ordered by what stands out in Toulon.
Toulon’s property crime rate is 0 per 1,000 residents, against 7.9 in Illinois’ towns and 9.9 across U.S. towns. Toulon reports less crime per resident than 99% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.
| Toulon | 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 |
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
The typical Toulon home is worth about $140,000, up 9% in a year, 53% below the Illinois typical home. Toulon’s median rent is $714 a month, where Illinois’ towns sit at $1,129 a month and U.S. towns at $1,185 a month.
| Toulon | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $714 a month | $1,129 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 73% | 75% | 73% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Most working residents leave Toulon for work: only 9% work in town. The average trip to work in Toulon is 30 minutes. The top destinations are Peoria (12%), Kewanee (9%) and Bradford (7%).
| Toulon | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 30 minutes | 26 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $59,000 | $83,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 11% | 8.4% | 9.6% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Toulon has cold, snowy winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 85°, January nights drop to 15° and about 31 inches of snow falls in a winter.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Toulon beats the Illinois average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 10. 15% of adults report frequent physical distress in Toulon.
| Toulon | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 13% | 14% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 38% | 35% | 35% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 13% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 11% | 12% |
| What stands out | Toulon | IL |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 79% | 75.7% |
| More adults with COPD | 9.2% | 6.3% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 55% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Toulon Community Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
None within 15 miles of Toulon; the nearest are
About 3 of every 100 Toulon residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Illinois.
Where Toulon’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
4 notable people were born in Toulon.
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
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+.
4 notable people were born here, including John Joseph Seerley and Charlie Hall.
