The Town FilesWillow Lake, Illinois
Community in Stephenson County · population 1,026 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $162,200
- Household income
- $100,568
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 57.0
Willow Lake is a community of 1,026 people in Stephenson County, Illinois. The median home is worth $162,200, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks quieter than 98% of Illinois towns, better for retirees than 89% of Illinois towns, easier by car than 82% of Illinois towns.
How Willow Lake 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 Willow Lake is worth $162,200, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $100,568, which is more affordable than 85% of Illinois towns. 94.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Willow Lake | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $162,200 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | — | $960 |
| Median household income | $100,568 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 94.9% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Willow Lake
| People | Willow Lake | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.0 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.3% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 10.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.4% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 12.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 10.3% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 20.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.3% | 90.4% |
Weather in Willow Lake
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 11.3°F. About 38.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.5 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 148 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Willow Lake since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 17, 2026 about 7.8 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 50 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 17, 2026.
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 Willow Lake itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Willow Lake
- Cedarville, IL2.9 mi · 663 people · home $125,700
- Freeport, IL3.1 mi · 23,973 people · home $92,100
- Dakota, IL6.7 mi · 500 people · home $115,600
- Orangeville, IL9.1 mi · 766 people · home $152,700
- Lena, IL10.0 mi · 2,772 people · home $146,000
- Pearl City, IL10.9 mi · 790 people · home $128,200
- Davis, IL12.8 mi · 589 people · home $142,700
- Shannon, IL13.7 mi · 801 people · home $115,100
Willow Lake questions
Is Willow Lake, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Willow Lake scores better for retirees than 89% of Illinois towns and quieter than 98%. 31.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 57.0).
How much does a house cost in Willow Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Willow Lake is valued at $162,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $100,568, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Willow Lake?
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 11.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.4 inches of precipitation a year and 34.5 inches of snow.
Does Willow Lake get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Willow Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 17, 2026. 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)