The Town FilesBig Rock, Illinois
Village in Kane County · population 1,104 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $337,900
- Household income
- $162,854
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 49.4
Big Rock is a village of 1,104 people in Kane County, Illinois. The median home is worth $337,900, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for families than 94% of Illinois towns, quieter than 85% of Illinois towns, more upscale than 82% of Illinois towns.
How Big Rock 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 Big Rock is worth $337,900, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $162,854, which is more affordable than 55% of Illinois towns. 98.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Big Rock | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $337,900 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | — | $960 |
| Median household income | $162,854 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 98.9% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1941 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Big Rock
| People | Big Rock | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.4 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.9% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.2% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 2.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.5% | — |
| Work from home | 35.4% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 18.4 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.4% | 90.4% |
Weather in Big Rock
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 14.7°F. About 33.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.5 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 141 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Big Rock since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 6, 1958 about 8.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 10, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 71 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 4, 2023.
Severe weather in Kane County since 1996
Kane 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 |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 3, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1800: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Kane County
Kane County had 213,795 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,791 a year. Unemployment was 5.1% in 2023; in Big Rock itself the ACS puts it at 2.2%.
Public schools in Big Rock
1 public school with 149 students, about 8.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hinckley-Big Rock Middle Sch | 6-8 | 149 | 8.8 |
Towns near Big Rock
- Sugar Grove, IL4.2 mi · 9,278 people · home $401,900
- Prestbury, IL5.4 mi · 1,657 people · home $362,700
- Hinckley, IL5.9 mi · 2,006 people · home $291,700
- Plano, IL6.0 mi · 11,847 people · home $230,700
- Yorkville, IL8.8 mi · 21,533 people · home $335,300
- Elburn, IL8.9 mi · 6,175 people · home $389,300
- Montgomery, IL9.2 mi · 20,262 people · home $299,500
- Sandwich, IL9.4 mi · 7,221 people · home $255,700
Big Rock questions
Is Big Rock, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Big Rock scores better for retirees than 79% of Illinois towns and quieter than 85%. 11.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.4).
How much does a house cost in Big Rock?
The median owner-occupied home in Big Rock is valued at $337,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $162,854, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Big Rock?
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 14.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.8 inches of precipitation a year and 38.5 inches of snow.
Does Big Rock get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Big Rock since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 6, 1958. 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)