The Town FilesGages Lake, Illinois
Community in Lake County · population 10,637 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $310,500
- Household income
- $103,318
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 39.8
Gages Lake is a community of 10,637 people in Lake County, Illinois. The median home is worth $310,500, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for young professionals than 93% of Illinois towns, more of a college town than 89% of Illinois towns, more upscale than 86% of Illinois towns.
How Gages 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 Gages Lake is worth $310,500, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $103,318, which is more affordable than 21% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,693 a month. 83.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gages Lake | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $310,500 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,693 | $960 |
| Median household income | $103,318 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 83.0% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Gages Lake
| People | Gages Lake | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.8 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.6% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.4% | — |
| Work from home | 21.6% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 26.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.4% | 90.4% |
Weather in Gages Lake
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 14.6°F. About 37.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 43.4 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 132 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gages Lake since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on September 28, 1972 about 7.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 64 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on May 2, 2018.
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 Gages Lake itself the ACS puts it at 9%.
Public schools in Gages Lake
7 public schools with 2,018 students, about 7.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodland Elementary | 1-3 | 1,436 | 12.2 |
| Woodland Primary School | PK-K | 582 | 12.7 |
| Cyd Lash Academy | Other | — | — |
| Gages Lake School | Other | — | — |
| Lake County Cooperative ALOP | 6-12 | — | — |
| Laremont School | PK-12 | — | — |
| SEDOL Sector Programs | Other | — | — |
Towns near Gages Lake
- Gurnee, IL2.7 mi · 30,706 people · home $344,300
- Grayslake, IL2.7 mi · 21,248 people · home $309,500
- Grandwood Park, IL2.8 mi · 5,297 people · home $330,500
- Park City, IL4.6 mi · 7,885 people · home $57,400
- Libertyville, IL4.7 mi · 20,579 people · home $512,000
- Hainesville, IL4.8 mi · 3,546 people · home $210,500
- Venetian Village, IL5.0 mi · 2,761 people · home $231,100
- Lindenhurst, IL5.1 mi · 14,406 people · home $294,100
Gages Lake questions
Is Gages Lake, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gages Lake scores better for retirees than 28% of Illinois towns and quieter than 18%. 14.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.8).
How much does a house cost in Gages Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Gages Lake is valued at $310,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $103,318, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,693 a month.
What is the weather like in Gages Lake?
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 14.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.8 inches of precipitation a year and 43.4 inches of snow.
Does Gages Lake get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gages Lake 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)