The Town FilesDowners Grove, Illinois
Village in DuPage County · population 50,247 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $449,800
- Household income
- $115,114
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 56
- Median age
- 43.6
Downers Grove is a village of 50,247 people in DuPage County, Illinois. The median home is worth $449,800, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for young professionals than 96% of Illinois towns, more vibrant than 93% of Illinois towns, better transit than 93% of Illinois towns.
How Downers Grove 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 Downers Grove is worth $449,800, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $115,114, which is more affordable than 5% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,656 a month. 75.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Downers Grove | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $449,800 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,656 | $960 |
| Median household income | $115,114 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 75.2% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Downers Grove
| People | Downers Grove | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.6 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.0% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 58.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.5% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 4.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.0% | — |
| Work from home | 23.8% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 27.8 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.0% | 90.4% |
Weather in Downers Grove
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 14.7°F. About 40.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 24.3 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 144 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
56 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Downers Grove since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 14 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 13, 1976 about 8.0 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 69 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 163 times; the largest was 4.80 inches on March 10, 2026.
Severe weather in DuPage County since 1996
DuPage County has been included in 16 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 |
| August 19, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1935: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in DuPage County
DuPage County had 622,113 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $79,674 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Downers Grove itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Downers Grove
17 public schools with 10,280 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comm H S Dist 99 - South High Sch | 9-12 | 2,604 | 14.5 |
| Comm H S Dist 99 - North H S | 9-12 | 2,104 | 13.8 |
| Herrick Middle School | 7-8 | 626 | 15.3 |
| Lester Elem School | PK-6 | 546 | 18.8 |
| O Neill Middle School | 7-8 | 438 | 15.1 |
| Hillcrest Elem School | PK-6 | 372 | 16.2 |
| Lakeview Jr High School | 6-8 | 370 | 13.2 |
| Highland Elem School | PK-6 | 366 | 16.6 |
| Prairieview Elementary School | 3-5 | 364 | 17.3 |
| Kingsley Elem School | PK-6 | 363 | 12.1 |
| Pierce Downer Elem School | PK-6 | 342 | 14.3 |
| Indian Trail Elem School | PK-6 | 328 | 10.6 |
Towns near Downers Grove
- Westmont, IL2.5 mi · 24,429 people · home $379,100
- Clarendon Hills, IL3.3 mi · 8,702 people · home $605,800
- Lisle, IL3.4 mi · 24,223 people · home $406,800
- Darien, IL4.0 mi · 22,011 people · home $398,700
- Woodridge, IL4.2 mi · 34,158 people · home $363,700
- Willowbrook, IL4.5 mi · 9,236 people · home $358,600
- Oak Brook, IL4.5 mi · 8,163 people · home $903,200
- Hinsdale, IL4.8 mi · 17,395 people · home $1,053,700
Downers Grove questions
Is Downers Grove, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Downers Grove scores better for retirees than 62% of Illinois towns and quieter than 14%. 21.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.6).
How much does a house cost in Downers Grove?
The median owner-occupied home in Downers Grove is valued at $449,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $115,114, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,656 a month.
What is the weather like in Downers Grove?
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 14.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.2 inches of precipitation a year and 24.3 inches of snow.
Does Downers Grove get tornadoes?
56 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Downers Grove since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 13, 1976. 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)