The Town FilesCandlewick Lake, Illinois
Community in Boone County · population 5,115 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $172,300
- Household income
- $86,146
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 34.5
Candlewick Lake is a community of 5,115 people in Boone County, Illinois. The median home is worth $172,300, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for families than 77% of Illinois towns, more of a college town than 75% of Illinois towns.
How Candlewick 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 Candlewick Lake is worth $172,300, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $86,146, which is more affordable than 61% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,520 a month. 92.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Candlewick Lake | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $172,300 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,520 | $960 |
| Median household income | $86,146 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 92.7% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1994 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in Candlewick Lake
| People | Candlewick Lake | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.5 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.1% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 28.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 8.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.7% | — |
| Work from home | 13.3% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 38.4 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.1% | 90.4% |
Weather in Candlewick Lake
July highs average 79.6°F and January lows 10.7°F. About 37.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 32.6 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 142 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Candlewick Lake since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 21, 1967 about 7.6 miles from the town center and killed 24. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 26 deaths and 501 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 90 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 13, 2006.
Severe weather in Boone County since 1996
Boone County has been included in 11 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 |
| March 13, 2008 | Snowstorm | EM-3283: Record Snow And Near Record Snow |
| December 29, 2006 | Snowstorm | EM-3269: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Boone County
Boone County had 11,526 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,414 a year. Unemployment was 7% in 2023; in Candlewick Lake itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Towns near Candlewick Lake
- Poplar Grove, IL1.4 mi · 5,049 people · home $270,700
- Belvidere, IL6.0 mi · 25,339 people · home $158,900
- Loves Park, IL6.6 mi · 23,397 people · home $160,400
- Machesney Park, IL8.0 mi · 22,950 people · home $173,700
- Roscoe, IL8.8 mi · 10,983 people · home $227,800
- Cherry Valley, IL9.6 mi · 2,905 people · home $232,800
- Rockford, IL11.7 mi · 148,655 people · home $129,000
- Rockton, IL11.9 mi · 7,863 people · home $235,400
Candlewick Lake questions
Is Candlewick Lake, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Candlewick Lake scores better for retirees than 4% of Illinois towns and quieter than 25%. 12.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.5).
How much does a house cost in Candlewick Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Candlewick Lake is valued at $172,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $86,146, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $1,520 a month.
What is the weather like in Candlewick Lake?
July highs average 79.6°F and January lows 10.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.4 inches of precipitation a year and 32.6 inches of snow.
Does Candlewick Lake get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Candlewick Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 21, 1967. 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)