The Town FilesBuffalo Grove, Illinois
Village in Lake County · population 43,212 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $412,300
- Household income
- $129,395
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 42.0
Buffalo Grove is a village of 43,212 people in Lake County, Illinois. The median home is worth $412,300, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more upscale than 95% of Illinois towns, more vibrant than 88% of Illinois towns, better transit than 88% of Illinois towns.
How Buffalo Grove 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 Buffalo Grove is worth $412,300, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $129,395, which is more affordable than 17% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $2,037 a month. 79.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Buffalo Grove | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $412,300 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $2,037 | $960 |
| Median household income | $129,395 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 79.8% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Buffalo Grove
| People | Buffalo Grove | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.0 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.8% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 68.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.2% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 2.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 38.1% | — |
| Work from home | 32.1% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 26.3 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.1% | 90.4% |
Weather in Buffalo Grove
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 18.4°F. About 32.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 43.1 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 122 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Buffalo Grove since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on September 28, 1972 about 9.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 164 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on February 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 120 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 5, 2010.
Severe weather in Lake County since 1996
Lake County has been included in 17 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 |
| June 24, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1771: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lake County
Lake County had 329,354 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $91,042 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Buffalo Grove itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in Buffalo Grove
12 public schools with 8,308 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Grove High School | 9-12 | 2,038 | 17.1 |
| Aptakisic Junior High School | 6-8 | 885 | 13.4 |
| Cooper Middle School | 6-8 | 694 | 13.1 |
| Meridian School | 4-5 | 675 | 14.1 |
| Twin Groves Middle School | 6-8 | 594 | 14.1 |
| Joyce Kilmer Elem School | PK-5 | 579 | 16.1 |
| Tripp School | K-3 | 517 | 12.6 |
| Ivy Hall Elementary School | 1-5 | 494 | 12.0 |
| Henry W Longfellow Elem School | PK-5 | 493 | 16.4 |
| Earl Pritchett School | K-3 | 471 | 12.1 |
| Prairie Elementary School | 1-5 | 463 | 16.0 |
| Willow Grove Early Learning Ctr | PK-K | 405 | 16.2 |
Towns near Buffalo Grove
- Lincolnshire, IL3.1 mi · 7,940 people · home $677,700
- Long Grove, IL3.2 mi · 8,366 people · home $804,600
- Wheeling, IL3.3 mi · 39,137 people · home $266,200
- Riverwoods, IL3.5 mi · 3,790 people · home $800,700
- Kildeer, IL4.6 mi · 4,091 people · home $770,700
- Prospect Heights, IL4.6 mi · 16,058 people · home $346,500
- Vernon Hills, IL4.7 mi · 26,850 people · home $412,300
- Arlington Heights, IL4.8 mi · 77,676 people · home $414,500
Buffalo Grove questions
Is Buffalo Grove, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Buffalo Grove scores better for retirees than 42% of Illinois towns and quieter than 16%. 15.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.0).
How much does a house cost in Buffalo Grove?
The median owner-occupied home in Buffalo Grove is valued at $412,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $129,395, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $2,037 a month.
What is the weather like in Buffalo Grove?
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 18.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.3 inches of precipitation a year and 43.1 inches of snow.
Does Buffalo Grove get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Buffalo Grove since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on September 28, 1972. 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)