The Town FilesWadsworth, Illinois
Village in Lake County · population 3,517 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $378,900
- Household income
- $142,738
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 38.5
Wadsworth is a village of 3,517 people in Lake County, Illinois. The median home is worth $378,900, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for families than 86% of Illinois towns, better transit than 86% of Illinois towns, more upscale than 85% of Illinois towns.
How Wadsworth 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 Wadsworth is worth $378,900, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $142,738, which is more affordable than 31% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $994 a month. 92.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wadsworth | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $378,900 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $994 | $960 |
| Median household income | $142,738 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 92.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Wadsworth
| People | Wadsworth | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.5% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.4% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.5% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.9% | — |
| Work from home | 12.4% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 27.3 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.6% | 90.4% |
Weather in Wadsworth
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 16.0°F. About 35.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 43.4 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 132 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wadsworth since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on September 28, 1972 about 7.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 3, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 52 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on May 2, 2018.
Severe weather in Lake County since 1996
Lake County has been included in 17 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 |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| June 24, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1771: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lake County
Lake County had 329,354 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $91,042 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Wadsworth itself the ACS puts it at 13.3%.
Public schools in Wadsworth
2 public schools with 661 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prairie Trail School | 3-5 | 405 | 11.6 |
| Newport Elem School | K-5 | 256 | 14.2 |
Towns near Wadsworth
- Beach Park, IL2.6 mi · 14,249 people · home $245,800
- Zion, IL3.8 mi · 24,655 people · home $183,800
- Grandwood Park, IL5.2 mi · 5,297 people · home $330,500
- Winthrop Harbor, IL5.3 mi · 6,705 people · home $250,800
- Pleasant Prairie, WI5.6 mi · 21,250 people · home $360,400
- Gurnee, IL5.6 mi · 30,706 people · home $344,300
- Lindenhurst, IL5.7 mi · 14,406 people · home $294,100
- Waukegan, IL6.3 mi · 89,321 people · home $190,900
Wadsworth questions
Is Wadsworth, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wadsworth scores better for retirees than 74% of Illinois towns and quieter than 58%. 23.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.5).
How much does a house cost in Wadsworth?
The median owner-occupied home in Wadsworth is valued at $378,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $142,738, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $994 a month.
What is the weather like in Wadsworth?
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 16.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.3 inches of precipitation a year and 43.4 inches of snow.
Does Wadsworth get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wadsworth since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on September 28, 1972. 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)