The Town FilesDixon, Illinois
City in Lee County · population 15,274 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $120,800
- Household income
- $59,406
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 41.9
Dixon is a city of 15,274 people in Lee County, Illinois. The median home is worth $120,800, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks hipper than 84% of Illinois towns, better for young professionals than 78% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 75% of Illinois towns.
How Dixon 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 Dixon is worth $120,800, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $59,406, which is more affordable than 61% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $912 a month. 64.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dixon | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $120,800 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $912 | $960 |
| Median household income | $59,406 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 64.1% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1954 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Dixon
| People | Dixon | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.9 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.9% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.8% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.4% | — |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 20.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.6% | 90.4% |
Weather in Dixon
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 13.6°F. About 40.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.2 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 138 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dixon since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on August 5, 1979 about 7.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 10 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 2, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 18, 1975.
Severe weather in Lee County since 1996
Lee County has been included in 10 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 |
| December 29, 2006 | Snowstorm | EM-3269: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Lee County
Lee County had 12,375 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,453 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Dixon itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Public schools in Dixon
10 public schools with 2,471 students, about 16.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dixon High School | 9-12 | 755 | 18.4 |
| Reagan Middle School | 6-8 | 577 | 17.0 |
| Washington Elem School | PK-1 | 444 | 17.1 |
| Madison School | 4-5 | 364 | 17.3 |
| Jefferson Elem School | 2-3 | 331 | 15.0 |
| Lee Cty SpEd-ECE | Other | — | — |
| Lee Cty SpEd-Life Skills (6-8 Gra | Other | — | — |
| Lee Cty SpEd-Life Skills (2-5 Gra | Other | — | — |
| Lee Cty SpEd-Life Skills (9-12 Gr | Other | — | — |
| Lee Cty SpEd-Transitions | Other | — | — |
Towns near Dixon
- Sterling, IL11.6 mi · 14,764 people · home $108,700
- Rock Falls, IL12.2 mi · 8,789 people · home $83,900
- Oregon, IL13.8 mi · 3,604 people · home $142,600
- Mount Morris, IL14.4 mi · 2,861 people · home $121,800
- Rochelle, IL21.9 mi · 9,446 people · home $164,300
- Byron, IL22.1 mi · 3,784 people · home $198,700
- Morrison, IL25.0 mi · 4,085 people · home $118,000
- Davis Junction, IL27.3 mi · 2,512 people · home $205,500
Dixon questions
Is Dixon, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dixon scores better for retirees than 74% of Illinois towns and quieter than 45%. 19.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.9).
How much does a house cost in Dixon?
The median owner-occupied home in Dixon is valued at $120,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,406, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $912 a month.
What is the weather like in Dixon?
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 13.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.5 inches of precipitation a year and 31.2 inches of snow.
Does Dixon get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dixon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on August 5, 1979. 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)