The Town Files

Winnebago County, Illinois

283,292 people. The median home is worth $164,500 (typical Illinois town: $156,600) and the median household earns $65,837.

Towns in Winnebago County

Towns in Winnebago County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Rockford148,655$129,000$54,75237.7
Loves Park23,397$160,400$61,86837.2
Machesney Park22,950$173,700$75,48940.3
Roscoe10,983$227,800$93,03636.4
South Beloit7,989$173,000$78,61636.0
Rockton7,863$235,400$119,05839.4
Winnebago2,940$194,000$92,61439.6
Cherry Valley2,905$232,800$74,65545.1

People and housing

Winnebago CountyTypical Illinois town
Median home value$164,500$156,600
Median rent$1,021$960
Median household income$65,837$72,500
Median age39.640.4
Bachelor's degree or higher25.2%21.8%
Below the poverty line15.6%9.9%

Jobs and pay

126,415 jobs in 2024, average pay $59,400 a year.

Largest industries in Winnebago CountyHealth care & social assistan…23,841 jobs · $71,006Manufacturing22,458 jobs · $77,653Retail14,200 jobs · $36,421Hotels & restaurants10,718 jobs · $23,045Administrative & support8,454 jobs · $43,134Transportation & warehousing7,298 jobs · $47,452
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Winnebago County0%4%8%12%16%2000200420082012201620202023 6.2%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 784 storm events in Winnebago County from 1996 to 2026, with 6 deaths.

Storm events in Winnebago County by type since 1996Hail178Flood55Drought25Tornado19High Wind33Heavy Rain13Flash Flood36Winter Storm37Winter Weather23Cold/Wind Chill12
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Winnebago County has been included in 19 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
September 20, 2024FloodDR-4819: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Floodng
March 26, 2020BiologicalDR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3435: Covid-19
May 10, 2013FloodDR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
March 17, 2011SnowstormDR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm
August 19, 2010Severe StormDR-1935: Severe Storms And Flooding
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).