The Town FilesFreeport, Illinois
City in Stephenson County · population 23,973 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $92,100
- Household income
- $51,723
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 42.8
Freeport is a city of 23,973 people in Stephenson County, Illinois. The median home is worth $92,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for cycling than 95% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 86% of Illinois towns, hipper than 82% of Illinois towns.
How Freeport 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 Freeport is worth $92,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $51,723, which is more affordable than 74% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $793 a month. 59.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Freeport | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $92,100 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $793 | $960 |
| Median household income | $51,723 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 59.1% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Freeport
| People | Freeport | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.8 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.0% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.6% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.3% | — |
| Work from home | 10.1% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 15.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.9% | 90.4% |
Weather in Freeport
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 Freeport since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 18, 1955 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 14, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 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 Freeport itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Public schools in Freeport
11 public schools with 3,638 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freeport High School | 9-12 | 1,155 | 13.1 |
| Freeport Middle School | 7-8 | 479 | 12.9 |
| Carl Sandburg Middle Sch | 5-6 | 437 | 12.9 |
| Empire Elem School | PK-4 | 407 | 17.7 |
| Jones-Farrar Intl Baccalaureate | K-6 | 337 | 13.0 |
| Lincoln-Douglas Elementary School | PK-4 | 320 | 12.8 |
| Blackhawk Elem School | PK-4 | 280 | 12.2 |
| Center Elem School | PK-4 | 223 | 10.1 |
| Career & Tech Educ Consortium | 9-12 | — | — |
| Freeport Alternative High Sch | 6-12 | — | — |
| RAP Freeport | 6-12 | — | — |
Towns near Freeport
- Lena, IL11.4 mi · 2,772 people · home $146,000
- Mount Morris, IL19.7 mi · 2,861 people · home $121,800
- Winnebago, IL20.5 mi · 2,940 people · home $194,000
- Monroe, WI21.7 mi · 10,661 people · home $195,300
- Byron, IL22.1 mi · 3,784 people · home $198,700
- Oregon, IL24.5 mi · 3,604 people · home $142,600
- Brodhead, WI26.2 mi · 3,274 people · home $168,800
- Savanna, IL29.1 mi · 2,783 people · home $72,400
Freeport questions
Is Freeport, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Freeport scores better for retirees than 38% of Illinois towns and quieter than 24%. 24.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.8).
How much does a house cost in Freeport?
The median owner-occupied home in Freeport is valued at $92,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,723, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $793 a month.
What is the weather like in Freeport?
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 Freeport get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Freeport since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 18, 1955. 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)