The Town Files

Stephenson County, Illinois

43,768 people. The median home is worth $134,900 (typical Illinois town: $156,600) and the median household earns $64,043.

Towns in Stephenson County

Towns in Stephenson County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Freeport23,973$92,100$51,72342.8
Lena2,772$146,000$72,66341.2

People and housing

Stephenson CountyTypical Illinois town
Median home value$134,900$156,600
Median rent$798$960
Median household income$64,043$72,500
Median age45.340.4
Bachelor's degree or higher20.7%21.8%
Below the poverty line13.9%9.9%

Jobs and pay

17,367 jobs in 2024, average pay $55,932 a year.

Largest industries in Stephenson CountyManufacturing3,278 jobs · $67,497Health care & social assistan…2,550 jobs · $57,207Retail1,651 jobs · $33,523Construction1,606 jobs · $100,417Administrative & support1,136 jobs · $42,848Hotels & restaurants1,003 jobs · $20,641
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Stephenson County0%2%4%6%8%10%12%2000200420082012201620202023 5%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 697 storm events in Stephenson County from 1996 to 2026, with 2 deaths.

Storm events in Stephenson County by type since 1996Hail122Flood16Drought13Tornado20Dense Fog11High Wind15Heavy Rain31Heavy Snow18Flash Flood41Winter Storm65
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Stephenson County has been included in 14 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
March 26, 2020BiologicalDR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3435: Covid-19
September 19, 2019FloodDR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding
March 17, 2011SnowstormDR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm
August 19, 2010Severe StormDR-1935: Severe Storms And Flooding
March 13, 2008SnowstormEM-3283: Record Snow And Near Record Snow
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).