The Town FilesLakewood, Illinois
Village in McHenry County · population 4,283 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $552,600
- Household income
- $173,625
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 42.9
Lakewood is a village of 4,283 people in McHenry County, Illinois. The median home is worth $552,600, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for families than 96% of Illinois towns, more upscale than 90% of Illinois towns, more of a college town than 88% of Illinois towns.
How Lakewood 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 Lakewood is worth $552,600, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $173,625, which is more affordable than 17% of Illinois towns. 96.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lakewood | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $552,600 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | — | $960 |
| Median household income | $173,625 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 96.7% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1999 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.4% | — |
Who lives in Lakewood
| People | Lakewood | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.2% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 29.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 61.3% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.5% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 4.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 14.0% | — |
| Work from home | 26.1% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 27.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 98.5% | 90.4% |
Weather in Lakewood
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 14.2°F. About 39.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 35.1 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 136 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lakewood since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 21, 1967 about 8.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 215 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 24, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 92 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 20, 2013.
Severe weather in McHenry County since 1996
McHenry 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 |
| March 13, 2008 | Snowstorm | EM-3283: Record Snow And Near Record Snow |
Jobs and pay in McHenry County
McHenry County had 96,922 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,107 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Lakewood itself the ACS puts it at 1.4%.
Towns near Lakewood
- Crystal Lake, IL2.7 mi · 40,269 people · home $311,400
- Lake in the Hills, IL4.8 mi · 28,982 people · home $321,900
- Huntley, IL5.1 mi · 27,740 people · home $334,300
- Algonquin, IL5.6 mi · 29,700 people · home $351,000
- Woodstock, IL6.4 mi · 25,630 people · home $245,700
- Cary, IL7.1 mi · 17,826 people · home $309,800
- Gilberts, IL7.9 mi · 8,366 people · home $347,300
- Carpentersville, IL8.5 mi · 37,983 people · home $234,100
Lakewood questions
Is Lakewood, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lakewood scores better for retirees than 22% of Illinois towns and quieter than 24%. 12.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.9).
How much does a house cost in Lakewood?
The median owner-occupied home in Lakewood is valued at $552,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $173,625, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Lakewood?
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 14.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.4 inches of precipitation a year and 35.1 inches of snow.
Does Lakewood get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lakewood since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 21, 1967. 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)