The Town FilesMachesney Park, Illinois
Village in Winnebago County · population 22,950 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $173,700
- Household income
- $75,489
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 40.3
Machesney Park is a village of 22,950 people in Winnebago County, Illinois. The median home is worth $173,700, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more vibrant than 78% of Illinois towns.
How Machesney Park 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 Machesney Park is worth $173,700, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $75,489, which is more affordable than 45% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,102 a month. 79.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Machesney Park | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $173,700 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,102 | $960 |
| Median household income | $75,489 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 79.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Machesney Park
| People | Machesney Park | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.4% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.4% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.7% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.3% | — |
| Work from home | 9.1% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 21.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.4% | 90.4% |
Weather in Machesney Park
July highs average 79.6°F and January lows 10.7°F. About 37.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.0 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 142 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Machesney Park since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on November 22, 2010 about 3.8 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 104 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 2, 2018.
Severe weather in Winnebago County since 1996
Winnebago County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 20, 2024 | Flood | DR-4819: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Floodng |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Winnebago County
Winnebago County had 126,415 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,400 a year. Unemployment was 6.2% in 2023; in Machesney Park itself the ACS puts it at 7.1%.
Public schools in Machesney Park
6 public schools with 3,732 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harlem High School | 9-12 | 1,947 | 14.2 |
| Donald C Parker Early Educ Center | PK-K | 562 | 14.4 |
| Olson Park Elem School | 1-6 | 356 | 17.0 |
| Machesney Elem School | 1-6 | 307 | 13.3 |
| Ralston Elem School | 1-6 | 294 | 15.5 |
| Marquette Elem School | 1-3 | 266 | 15.6 |
Towns near Machesney Park
- Loves Park, IL2.4 mi · 23,397 people · home $160,400
- Roscoe, IL4.1 mi · 10,983 people · home $227,800
- Rockton, IL5.8 mi · 7,863 people · home $235,400
- Rockford, IL7.7 mi · 148,655 people · home $129,000
- Candlewick Lake, IL8.0 mi · 5,115 people · home $172,300
- South Beloit, IL8.1 mi · 7,989 people · home $173,000
- Poplar Grove, IL9.3 mi · 5,049 people · home $270,700
- Cherry Valley, IL9.5 mi · 2,905 people · home $232,800
Machesney Park questions
Is Machesney Park, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Machesney Park scores better for retirees than 8% of Illinois towns and quieter than 25%. 17.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.3).
How much does a house cost in Machesney Park?
The median owner-occupied home in Machesney Park is valued at $173,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $75,489, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $1,102 a month.
What is the weather like in Machesney Park?
July highs average 79.6°F and January lows 10.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.4 inches of precipitation a year and 38.0 inches of snow.
Does Machesney Park get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Machesney Park since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on November 22, 2010. 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)