The Town FilesLake of the Woods, Illinois
Community in Champaign County · population 2,403 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $193,500
- Household income
- $61,625
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 38
- Median age
- 37.9
Lake of the Woods is a community of 2,403 people in Champaign County, Illinois. The median home is worth $193,500, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for young professionals than 93% of Illinois towns, more upscale than 92% of Illinois towns, better for families than 79% of Illinois towns.
How Lake of the Woods 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 Lake of the Woods is worth $193,500, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $61,625, which is more affordable than 19% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,190 a month. 86.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake of the Woods | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $193,500 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,190 | $960 |
| Median household income | $61,625 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 86.1% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Lake of the Woods
| People | Lake of the Woods | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.9 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.8% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 31.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.3% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.7% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 9.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 18.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.4% | 90.4% |
Weather in Lake of the Woods
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 17.4°F. About 39.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.4 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 128 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
38 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake of the Woods since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 9, 1953 about 8.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 62 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 9, 2015.
Severe weather in Champaign County since 1996
Champaign County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| November 26, 2013 | Tornado | DR-4157: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| May 21, 2002 | Tornado | DR-1416: Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Champaign County
Champaign County had 94,777 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,216 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Lake of the Woods itself the ACS puts it at 6.2%.
Towns near Lake of the Woods
- Mahomet, IL1.3 mi · 9,434 people · home $299,100
- Mansfield, IL7.1 mi · 928 people · home $142,200
- Fisher, IL7.7 mi · 2,062 people · home $190,100
- Champaign, IL8.2 mi · 88,302 people · home $210,900
- Thomasboro, IL10.2 mi · 1,034 people · home $111,800
- Urbana, IL11.4 mi · 38,336 people · home $184,900
- Savoy, IL11.9 mi · 8,857 people · home $320,300
- Rantoul, IL13.4 mi · 12,371 people · home $118,200
Lake of the Woods questions
Is Lake of the Woods, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake of the Woods scores better for retirees than 35% of Illinois towns and quieter than 26%. 22.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.9).
How much does a house cost in Lake of the Woods?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake of the Woods is valued at $193,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,625, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,190 a month.
What is the weather like in Lake of the Woods?
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 17.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.6 inches of precipitation a year and 17.4 inches of snow.
Does Lake of the Woods get tornadoes?
38 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake of the Woods since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 9, 1953. 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)