The Town FilesHennepin, Illinois
Village in Putnam County · population 769 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $168,300
- Household income
- $83,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 38.3
Hennepin is a village of 769 people in Putnam County, Illinois. The median home is worth $168,300, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks quieter than 100% of Illinois towns, better for a vacation home than 99% of Illinois towns, better for retirees than 98% of Illinois towns.
How Hennepin 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 Hennepin is worth $168,300, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $83,000, which is more affordable than 61% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $849 a month. 74.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hennepin | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $168,300 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $849 | $960 |
| Median household income | $83,000 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 74.2% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.8% | — |
Who lives in Hennepin
| People | Hennepin | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.3 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.5% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 6.7% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 25.0 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.9% | 90.4% |
Weather in Hennepin
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 16.8°F. About 38.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.0 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 119 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hennepin since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 20, 2004 about 7.6 miles from the town center and killed 8. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 9 deaths and 14 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 14, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 59 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on September 22, 2005.
Severe weather in Putnam County since 1996
Putnam County has been included in 11 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 |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| December 29, 2006 | Snowstorm | EM-3269: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Putnam County
Putnam County had 2,012 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $69,607 a year. Unemployment was 5.6% in 2023; in Hennepin itself the ACS puts it at 5.9%.
Public schools in Hennepin
1 public school with 156 students, about 12.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Putnam County Elem School | 3-5 | 156 | 12.0 |
Towns near Hennepin
- Mark, IL3.2 mi · 519 people · home $161,600
- Granville, IL4.5 mi · 1,359 people · home $142,500
- De Pue, IL5.5 mi · 1,633 people · home $59,300
- Spring Valley, IL8.5 mi · 5,582 people · home $153,300
- Henry, IL9.5 mi · 2,320 people · home $117,000
- Dalzell, IL10.3 mi · 663 people · home $161,700
- Tiskilwa, IL10.4 mi · 740 people · home $84,700
- Ladd, IL10.4 mi · 1,263 people · home $129,600
Hennepin questions
Is Hennepin, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hennepin scores better for retirees than 98% of Illinois towns and quieter than 100%. 15.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.3).
How much does a house cost in Hennepin?
The median owner-occupied home in Hennepin is valued at $168,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $83,000, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $849 a month.
What is the weather like in Hennepin?
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 16.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.6 inches of precipitation a year and 26.0 inches of snow.
Does Hennepin get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hennepin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 20, 2004. 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)