The Town FilesApple Canyon Lake, Illinois
Community in Jo Daviess County · population 574 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $329,400
- Household income
- $115,072
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 60.3
Apple Canyon Lake is a community of 574 people in Jo Daviess County, Illinois. The median home is worth $329,400, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for a vacation home than 100% of Illinois towns, quieter than 99% of Illinois towns, better for retirees than 98% of Illinois towns.
How Apple Canyon Lake 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 Apple Canyon Lake is worth $329,400, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $115,072, which is more affordable than 24% of Illinois towns. 96.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Apple Canyon Lake | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $329,400 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | — | $960 |
| Median household income | $115,072 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 96.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 62.3% | — |
Who lives in Apple Canyon Lake
| People | Apple Canyon Lake | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 60.3 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 39.3% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 10.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.7% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 11.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 16.4% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 30.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.9% | 90.4% |
Weather in Apple Canyon Lake
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 10.4°F. About 39.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 32.1 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 156 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Apple Canyon Lake since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 15, 2024 about 3.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 15, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 34 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 24, 2009.
Severe weather in Jo Daviess County since 1996
Jo Daviess County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| August 19, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1935: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 13, 2008 | Snowstorm | EM-3283: Record Snow And Near Record Snow |
Jobs and pay in Jo Daviess County
Jo Daviess County had 7,485 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,804 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Apple Canyon Lake itself the ACS puts it at 7.8%.
Towns near Apple Canyon Lake
- Elizabeth, IL8.7 mi · 694 people · home $135,900
- The Galena Territory, IL8.9 mi · 1,500 people · home $324,700
- Warren, IL9.6 mi · 1,323 people · home $102,200
- Stockton, IL9.8 mi · 1,728 people · home $93,700
- Shullsburg, WI10.4 mi · 1,173 people · home $148,800
- Gratiot, WI11.0 mi · 575 people · home $326,800
- Hanover, IL13.6 mi · 863 people · home $89,500
- Galena, IL13.7 mi · 3,308 people · home $233,200
Apple Canyon Lake questions
Is Apple Canyon Lake, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Apple Canyon Lake scores better for retirees than 98% of Illinois towns and quieter than 99%. 39.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 60.3).
How much does a house cost in Apple Canyon Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Apple Canyon Lake is valued at $329,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $115,072, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Apple Canyon Lake?
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 10.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.4 inches of precipitation a year and 32.1 inches of snow.
Does Apple Canyon Lake get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Apple Canyon Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 15, 2024. 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)