The Town FilesFranklin Grove, Illinois
Village in Lee County · population 896 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $124,400
- Household income
- $58,618
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 47.8
Franklin Grove is a village of 896 people in Lee County, Illinois. The median home is worth $124,400, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for retirees than 97% of Illinois towns, easier by car than 97% of Illinois towns, more of a college town than 93% of Illinois towns.
How Franklin 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 Franklin Grove is worth $124,400, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $58,618, which is more affordable than 55% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $800 a month. 74.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Franklin Grove | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $124,400 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $800 | $960 |
| Median household income | $58,618 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 74.0% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1943 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Franklin Grove
| People | Franklin Grove | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.8 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 33.7% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.8% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 10.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 3.2% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 26.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.4% | 90.4% |
Weather in Franklin Grove
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 13.6°F. About 40.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 138 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Franklin Grove since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 9, 2015 about 4.6 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 30 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 10, 2025.
Severe weather in Lee County since 1996
Lee County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| December 29, 2006 | Snowstorm | EM-3269: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Lee County
Lee County had 12,375 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,453 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Franklin Grove itself the ACS puts it at 1.2%.
Public schools in Franklin Grove
1 public school with 242 students, about 12.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashton-Franklin Center Elem Sch | PK-6 | 242 | 12.1 |
Towns near Franklin Grove
- Ashton, IL4.3 mi · 967 people · home $114,200
- Lost Nation, IL6.0 mi · 714 people · home $236,300
- Amboy, IL8.9 mi · 2,278 people · home $134,800
- Dixon, IL9.1 mi · 15,274 people · home $120,800
- Oregon, IL12.0 mi · 3,604 people · home $142,600
- Rochelle, IL13.3 mi · 9,446 people · home $164,300
- Hillcrest, IL15.0 mi · 1,224 people · home $164,200
- Mount Morris, IL15.8 mi · 2,861 people · home $121,800
Franklin Grove questions
Is Franklin Grove, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Franklin Grove scores better for retirees than 97% of Illinois towns and quieter than 66%. 33.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.8).
How much does a house cost in Franklin Grove?
The median owner-occupied home in Franklin Grove is valued at $124,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,618, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $800 a month.
What is the weather like in Franklin Grove?
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 13.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.5 inches of precipitation a year and 28.9 inches of snow.
Does Franklin Grove get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Franklin Grove since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on April 9, 2015. 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)