The Town FilesLake Summerset, Illinois
Community in Stephenson County · population 2,342 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $237,300
- Household income
- $108,355
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 45.1
Lake Summerset is a community of 2,342 people in Stephenson County, Illinois. The median home is worth $237,300, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks easier by car than 85% of Illinois towns, better for families than 83% of Illinois towns, more of a college town than 80% of Illinois towns.
How Lake Summerset 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 Summerset is worth $237,300, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $108,355, which is more affordable than 50% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,318 a month. 91.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake Summerset | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $237,300 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,318 | $960 |
| Median household income | $108,355 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 91.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 11.0% | — |
Who lives in Lake Summerset
| People | Lake Summerset | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.1 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 34.9% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 11.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.3% | — |
| Work from home | 10.5% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 40.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.6% | 90.4% |
Weather in Lake Summerset
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 10.5°F. About 38.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.2 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 151 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Summerset since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on October 8, 1958 about 2.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 7, 2020.
Severe weather in Stephenson County since 1996
Stephenson County has been included in 14 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 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| August 19, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1935: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Stephenson County
Stephenson County had 17,367 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,932 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Lake Summerset itself the ACS puts it at 15.9%.
Towns near Lake Summerset
- Davis, IL2.6 mi · 589 people · home $142,700
- Durand, IL3.5 mi · 1,390 people · home $135,500
- Spring Grove, WI6.8 mi · 919 people · home $260,500
- Avon, WI7.7 mi · 570 people · home $248,000
- Dakota, IL8.3 mi · 500 people · home $115,600
- Pecatonica, IL10.2 mi · 2,090 people · home $143,900
- Jefferson, WI10.2 mi · 1,170 people · home $231,300
- Westlake Village, IL11.1 mi · 1,493 people · home $239,200
Lake Summerset questions
Is Lake Summerset, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake Summerset scores better for retirees than 76% of Illinois towns and quieter than 60%. 34.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.1).
How much does a house cost in Lake Summerset?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake Summerset is valued at $237,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $108,355, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $1,318 a month.
What is the weather like in Lake Summerset?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 10.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.3 inches of precipitation a year and 37.2 inches of snow.
Does Lake Summerset get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Summerset since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on October 8, 1958. 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)