The Town FilesAmboy, Illinois
City in Lee County · population 2,278 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $134,800
- Household income
- $68,258
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 47.8
Amboy is a city of 2,278 people in Lee County, Illinois. The median home is worth $134,800, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks easier by car than 99% of Illinois towns, more of a college town than 94% of Illinois towns, better for cycling than 91% of Illinois towns.
How Amboy ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Amboy is worth $134,800, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $68,258, which is more affordable than 61% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $824 a month. 76.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Amboy | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $134,800 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $824 | $960 |
| Median household income | $68,258 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 76.0% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Amboy
| People | Amboy | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.8 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.3% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.3% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 1.2% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 28.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.5% | 90.4% |
Weather in Amboy
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 13.6°F. About 40.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 138 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Amboy since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on March 31, 2023 about 4.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 14, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 10, 2025.
Severe weather in Lee County since 1996
Lee County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| December 29, 2006 | Snowstorm | EM-3269: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Lee County
Lee County had 12,375 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,453 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Amboy itself the ACS puts it at 8.3%.
Public schools in Amboy
3 public schools with 725 students, about 12.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amboy Central Elem School | PK-4 | 282 | 13.4 |
| Amboy High School | 9-12 | 236 | 12.4 |
| Amboy Jr High School | 5-8 | 207 | 12.2 |
Towns near Amboy
- Franklin Grove, IL8.9 mi · 896 people · home $124,400
- Dixon, IL11.3 mi · 15,274 people · home $120,800
- Ashton, IL12.1 mi · 967 people · home $114,200
- La Moille, IL13.1 mi · 679 people · home $111,300
- Lost Nation, IL13.6 mi · 714 people · home $236,300
- Mendota, IL16.6 mi · 7,061 people · home $134,100
- Walnut, IL17.0 mi · 1,311 people · home $102,100
- Rock Falls, IL18.6 mi · 8,789 people · home $83,900
Amboy questions
Is Amboy, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Amboy scores better for retirees than 80% of Illinois towns and quieter than 53%. 21.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.8).
How much does a house cost in Amboy?
The median owner-occupied home in Amboy is valued at $134,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,258, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $824 a month.
What is the weather like in Amboy?
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 13.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.5 inches of precipitation a year and 28.9 inches of snow.
Does Amboy get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Amboy since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on March 31, 2023. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)