The Town FilesRochelle, Illinois
City in Ogle County · population 9,446 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $164,300
- Household income
- $66,307
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 36.0
Rochelle is a city of 9,446 people in Ogle County, Illinois. The median home is worth $164,300, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for young professionals than 84% of Illinois towns, better for cycling than 76% of Illinois towns, more of a college town than 70% of Illinois towns.
How Rochelle 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 Rochelle is worth $164,300, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $66,307, which is more affordable than 38% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $985 a month. 53.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rochelle | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $164,300 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $985 | $960 |
| Median household income | $66,307 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 53.1% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in Rochelle
| People | Rochelle | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.0 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.5% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.9% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.9% | — |
| Work from home | 5.6% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 22.3 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.3% | 90.4% |
Weather in Rochelle
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 12.1°F. About 36.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.3 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 145 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rochelle since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 9, 2015 about 4.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 14, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on September 21, 1973.
Severe weather in Ogle County since 1996
Ogle 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 |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, 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 Ogle County
Ogle County had 14,934 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,187 a year. Unemployment was 5.4% in 2023; in Rochelle itself the ACS puts it at 8.2%.
Public schools in Rochelle
6 public schools with 2,434 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochelle Twp High School | 9-12 | 856 | 15.9 |
| Lincoln Elem School | PK-1 | 495 | 15.5 |
| Rochelle Middle School | 6-8 | 468 | 13.0 |
| Tilton Elem School | 4-5 | 308 | 14.0 |
| Central Elem School | 2-3 | 307 | 14.0 |
| Rochelle Focus House | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Rochelle
- Davis Junction, IL13.6 mi · 2,512 people · home $205,500
- Oregon, IL15.4 mi · 3,604 people · home $142,600
- DeKalb, IL16.3 mi · 40,290 people · home $204,700
- Byron, IL17.5 mi · 3,784 people · home $198,700
- Cortland, IL19.3 mi · 4,398 people · home $233,200
- Sycamore, IL20.5 mi · 18,577 people · home $265,700
- Mount Morris, IL20.8 mi · 2,861 people · home $121,800
- Dixon, IL21.9 mi · 15,274 people · home $120,800
Rochelle questions
Is Rochelle, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rochelle scores better for retirees than 66% of Illinois towns and quieter than 33%. 15.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.0).
How much does a house cost in Rochelle?
The median owner-occupied home in Rochelle is valued at $164,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,307, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $985 a month.
What is the weather like in Rochelle?
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 12.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.6 inches of precipitation a year and 28.3 inches of snow.
Does Rochelle get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rochelle 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)