The Town Files

Hanover, Illinois

Village in Jo Daviess County · population 863 (2020 Census)

Map: where Hanover is in IllinoisHanover
Median home
$89,500
Household income
$42,250
Jan low / Jul high
10° / 83°
Snow a year
30 in
Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
12
Median age
46.5

Hanover is a village of 863 people in Jo Daviess County, Illinois. The median home is worth $89,500, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for a vacation home than 99% of Illinois towns, better for retirees than 98% of Illinois towns, hipper than 96% of Illinois towns.

Hanover in our rankings:

How Hanover 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.

Hanover lifestyle rankings vs other Illinois townsRetirement98th pctFamilies49th pctQuiet83rd pctWalkability27th pctFirst-time buyersbottomYoung professionals26th pctVibrancy26th pctHip & trendy96th pctCollege town16th pctUpscale30th pctVacation homes99th pctSeaside characterbottomCyclingbottomTransitbottomDriving26th pcttypical
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025).

Homes and cost of living

The median home in Hanover is worth $89,500, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $42,250, which is more affordable than 55% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $705 a month. 63.6% of households own their home.

Hanover vs Jo Daviess County vs typical Illinois townHanoverJo Daviess CountyTypical Illinois townHome value$89,500$209,900$156,600Household income$42,250$73,993$72,500Monthly rent$705$825$960
Census ACS 5-year estimates, 2020–2024. "Typical town" = median of Illinois towns with 500+ people.
HousingHanoverTypical Illinois town
Median home value$89,500$156,600
Median rent$705$960
Median household income$42,250$72,500
Home value ÷ income2.1×2.2×
Homeownership63.6%76.6%
Median year built19441967
Seasonal / vacation homes6.1%—

Who lives in Hanover

PeopleHanoverTypical Illinois town
Median age46.540.4
Age 65 and over23.2%18.7%
Under 1824.4%—
Bachelor's degree or higher9.7%21.8%
Below the poverty line21.8%9.9%
Veterans6.1%—
Born outside the U.S.0.8%—
Work from home2.1%8.9%
Average commute26.7 min26.1 min
Homes with broadband89.4%90.4%

Weather in Hanover

July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 10.4°F. About 39.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 30.2 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 156 nights at or below freezing.

Hanover monthly temperatures and precipitation10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32° freezing28°10°Jan33°14°Feb46°25°Mar59°36°Apr70°47°May80°58°Jun83°61°Jul81°59°Aug75°50°Sep62°39°Oct47°28°Nov34°17°DecPrecipitation (in) · snow (in) in blue1.48.41.78.12.33.53.91.14.35.84.74.03.93.00.32.41.91.96.9
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals: average daily high and low by month; precipitation and snowfall in inches. Temperatures from the Elizabeth station (4.8 mi away).

Tornadoes, storms and disasters

12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hanover since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 12, 2013 about 8.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.

Tornadoes within 10 miles of Hanover by decade11950s11960s01970s01980s01990s22000s32010s52020s
NOAA Storm Events Database, tornado tracks (start to end point) passing within 10 miles of the town center, 1950–2026.

Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on March 10, 2026.

Severe weather in Jo Daviess County since 1996

Storm events in Jo Daviess County since 1996 by typeHail103Flood20Drought13Tornado13Dense Fog11High Wind16Heavy Rain22Heavy Snow21
NOAA Storm Events Database, Jo Daviess County, 1996–2026 (all event types recorded since 1996). 3 deaths recorded.

Jo Daviess County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
March 26, 2020BiologicalDR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3435: Covid-19
March 17, 2011SnowstormDR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm
August 19, 2010Severe StormDR-1935: Severe Storms And Flooding
March 13, 2008SnowstormEM-3283: Record Snow And Near Record Snow

Jobs and pay in Jo Daviess County

Jo Daviess County had 7,485 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,804 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Hanover itself the ACS puts it at 11.3%.

Largest industries in Jo Daviess CountyHotels & restaurants1,467 jobs · $25,441Retail1,050 jobs · $31,874Manufacturing707 jobs · $69,352Construction548 jobs · $67,914Other services391 jobs · $35,981Arts & recreation236 jobs · $21,322
BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024, private-sector jobs and average annual pay.
Unemployment rate in Jo Daviess County, 2000–20230%2%4%6%8%10%2000200420082012201620202023Jo Daviess 4.1%
Annual average unemployment rate (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics via USDA ERS).

Public schools in Hanover

3 public schools with 453 students, about 10.3 students per teacher.

SchoolGradesStudentsPer teacher
River Ridge Elementary SchoolPK-522810.9
River Ridge High School9-121329.4
River Ridge Middle School6-89310.3

Towns near Hanover

Hanover questions

Is Hanover, Illinois a good place to retire?

On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hanover scores better for retirees than 98% of Illinois towns and quieter than 83%. 23.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.5).

How much does a house cost in Hanover?

The median owner-occupied home in Hanover is valued at $89,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,250, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $705 a month.

What is the weather like in Hanover?

July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 10.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.4 inches of precipitation a year and 30.2 inches of snow.

Does Hanover get tornadoes?

12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hanover since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 12, 2013. The typical Illinois town has had 27.

How this page is made. Every number comes from public data, matched to Hanover's Census boundary (GEOID 1732707). Comparisons use the median of Illinois towns with at least 500 people. Weather comes from the nearest NOAA normals station; storm counts use NOAA tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center. Data snapshot 2026-11-13.