The Town FilesComo, Illinois
Community in Whiteside County · population 528 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $175,700
- Household income
- $63,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 35.5
Como is a community of 528 people in Whiteside County, Illinois. The median home is worth $175,700, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks quieter than 99% of Illinois towns, better for families than 88% of Illinois towns, better for retirees than 73% of Illinois towns.
How Como 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 Como is worth $175,700, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $63,750, which is more affordable than 27% of Illinois towns. 84.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Como | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $175,700 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | — | $960 |
| Median household income | $63,750 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 84.4% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 16.3% | — |
Who lives in Como
| People | Como | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.5 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.0% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 31.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.3% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.6% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 10.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.1% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 15.3 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.7% | 90.4% |
Weather in Como
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 12.0°F. About 38.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.8 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 145 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Como since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 29, 1981 about 6.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 2, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 8, 1958.
Severe weather in Whiteside County since 1996
Whiteside County has been included in 14 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 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Whiteside County
Whiteside County had 21,197 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,164 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Como itself the ACS puts it at 12.7%.
Towns near Como
- Rock Falls, IL3.7 mi · 8,789 people · home $83,900
- Sterling, IL4.2 mi · 14,764 people · home $108,700
- Lyndon, IL8.8 mi · 537 people · home $113,500
- Tampico, IL9.4 mi · 689 people · home $86,000
- Morrison, IL10.5 mi · 4,085 people · home $118,000
- Prophetstown, IL11.0 mi · 1,946 people · home $116,600
- Milledgeville, IL13.6 mi · 1,026 people · home $94,200
- Dixon, IL15.7 mi · 15,274 people · home $120,800
Como questions
Is Como, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Como scores better for retirees than 73% of Illinois towns and quieter than 99%. 17.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.5).
How much does a house cost in Como?
The median owner-occupied home in Como is valued at $175,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,750, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Como?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 12.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.3 inches of precipitation a year and 28.8 inches of snow.
Does Como get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Como since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 29, 1981. 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)