The Town FilesKirkland, Illinois
Village in DeKalb County · population 1,650 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $191,600
- Household income
- $94,338
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 34.8
Kirkland is a village of 1,650 people in DeKalb County, Illinois. The median home is worth $191,600, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks easier by car than 95% of Illinois towns, better for cycling than 78% of Illinois towns, better for first-time buyers than 77% of Illinois towns.
How Kirkland 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 Kirkland is worth $191,600, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $94,338, which is more affordable than 61% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $875 a month. 73.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kirkland | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $191,600 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $875 | $960 |
| Median household income | $94,338 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 73.5% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Kirkland
| People | Kirkland | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.8 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.1% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.8% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 7.3% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 33.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.3% | 90.4% |
Weather in Kirkland
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 13.1°F. About 37.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 141 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kirkland since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 9, 2015 about 4.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 27 deaths and 462 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 15, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 12 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 8, 2011.
Severe weather in DeKalb County since 1996
DeKalb County has been included in 12 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 |
| October 3, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1800: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in DeKalb County
DeKalb County had 36,272 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,896 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Kirkland itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Public schools in Kirkland
2 public schools with 426 students, about 11.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hiawatha Elem Sch PreK-5 | PK-5 | 215 | 12.6 |
| Hiawatha Jr/Sr High School | 6-12 | 211 | 10.6 |
Towns near Kirkland
- Kingston, IL4.4 mi · 1,108 people · home $241,700
- Genoa, IL7.9 mi · 5,298 people · home $225,200
- Sycamore, IL10.9 mi · 18,577 people · home $265,700
- Malta, IL11.2 mi · 1,143 people · home $180,300
- New Milford, IL11.4 mi · 794 people · home $132,500
- Cherry Valley, IL11.9 mi · 2,905 people · home $232,800
- Belvidere, IL12.3 mi · 25,339 people · home $158,900
- DeKalb, IL12.3 mi · 40,290 people · home $204,700
Kirkland questions
Is Kirkland, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kirkland scores better for retirees than 55% of Illinois towns and quieter than 61%. 13.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.8).
How much does a house cost in Kirkland?
The median owner-occupied home in Kirkland is valued at $191,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $94,338, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $875 a month.
What is the weather like in Kirkland?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 13.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.2 inches of precipitation a year and 38.9 inches of snow.
Does Kirkland get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kirkland 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)