Avena is an unincorporated community in Avena and Sefton Townships, Fayette County, Illinois, United States. Avena is located on a CSX Transportation line 4.3 miles (6.9 km) west-southwest of St. Elmo.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

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Living in Avena

Work & commute in Avena

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Most working residents leave Avena for work: only 13% work in town. The top destinations are Effingham (16%), St. Elmo (12%) and Vandalia (5%). Half commute less than 21 miles.

Effingham

16%

St. Elmo

12%

Vandalia

Altamont

13%Work in townlive and work in Avena 21 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 772Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Avena →

Health in Avena

C⁻

Health Grade C−

Healthier than 18% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 41% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Illinois

15worse than IL

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 17 are too close to call.

Conditions 9▼ 3 close Habits 2▼ 2 close Care 1▼ 6 close Mind 3▼ 2 close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

18.6%More older adults who have lost all their teethIL 10.3% · worse 10.8%More adults with COPDIL 6.3% · worse 18.6%More smokersIL 12.1% · worse

Care nearby

Fayette County HospitalVandalia · 13.6 mi · ER · rural critical access

Sihf Healthcare - VandaliaVandalia · 14.3 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · ZIP codes 62458, 62411 · CMS · HRSAHealth in Avena →

Natural hazards in Avena

High

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 60% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🏚️ Earthquakes🥶 Cold waves

0Does Avena flood?no paid flood claims on record NoneDisasters that paid out hereof 6 declared for Fayette County MapAvena vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Avena →

Climate in Avena

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Avena has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 87°, a January night drops to 21°, and about 16 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

40° / 24°Winter

64° / 44°Spring

85° / 64°Summer

67° / 45°Fall

How much snow does Avena get?About 16 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 24, with the last in spring around Apr 3.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.0° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Avena →

Schools in Avena

All Avena schools →

C⁻

School Grade C-

The public schools Avena’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 78% of Illinois’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

DistrictSt Elmo CUSD 202Schools3

St Elmo Elem School CElementary · Grades PK–6 · 222 students St Elmo Jr High School C+Middle · Grades 7–8 · 55 students St Elmo Sr High School C-High · Grades 9–12 · 113 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within IL. Ratings are from neighbors.