The Town FilesProphetstown, Illinois
City in Whiteside County · population 1,946 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $116,600
- Household income
- $65,125
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 30 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 43.7
Prophetstown is a city of 1,946 people in Whiteside County, Illinois. The median home is worth $116,600, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for retirees than 97% of Illinois towns, quieter than 78% of Illinois towns, easier by car than 77% of Illinois towns.
How Prophetstown 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 Prophetstown is worth $116,600, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $65,125, which is more affordable than 74% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $733 a month. 74.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Prophetstown | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $116,600 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $733 | $960 |
| Median household income | $65,125 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 74.7% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Prophetstown
| People | Prophetstown | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.7 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.8% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.7% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 13.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 2.8% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 22.8 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.0% | 90.4% |
Weather in Prophetstown
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 12.0°F. About 38.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 29.6 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 145 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Prophetstown since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 29, 1981 about 1.1 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 37 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 15, 2025.
Severe weather in Whiteside County since 1996
Whiteside County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 |
| 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 Whiteside County
Whiteside County had 21,197 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,164 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Prophetstown itself the ACS puts it at 7.2%.
Public schools in Prophetstown
3 public schools with 619 students, about 14.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prophetstown Elem School | PK-3 | 234 | 15.6 |
| Prophetstown High School | 9-12 | 216 | 14.4 |
| PLT Middle School | 6-8 | 169 | 14.1 |
Towns near Prophetstown
- Lyndon, IL3.4 mi · 537 people · home $113,500
- Erie, IL7.6 mi · 1,518 people · home $151,900
- Tampico, IL8.2 mi · 689 people · home $86,000
- Morrison, IL9.6 mi · 4,085 people · home $118,000
- Como, IL11.0 mi · 528 people · home $175,700
- Rock Falls, IL14.3 mi · 8,789 people · home $83,900
- Sterling, IL15.2 mi · 14,764 people · home $108,700
- Albany, IL16.6 mi · 864 people · home $148,800
Prophetstown questions
Is Prophetstown, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Prophetstown scores better for retirees than 97% of Illinois towns and quieter than 78%. 25.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.7).
How much does a house cost in Prophetstown?
The median owner-occupied home in Prophetstown is valued at $116,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,125, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $733 a month.
What is the weather like in Prophetstown?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 12.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.3 inches of precipitation a year and 29.6 inches of snow.
Does Prophetstown get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Prophetstown since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 29, 1981. 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)