The Town FilesLena, Illinois
Village in Stephenson County · population 2,772 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $146,000
- Household income
- $72,663
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 41.2
Lena is a village of 2,772 people in Stephenson County, Illinois. The median home is worth $146,000, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for retirees than 95% of Illinois towns, better for families than 91% of Illinois towns, quieter than 75% of Illinois towns.
How Lena 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 Lena is worth $146,000, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $72,663, which is more affordable than 61% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $664 a month. 76.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lena | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $146,000 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $664 | $960 |
| Median household income | $72,663 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 76.4% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Lena
| People | Lena | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.2 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.1% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.1% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 10.8% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 26.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.2% | 90.4% |
Weather in Lena
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 12.1°F. About 38.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 35.7 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 143 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lena since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 17, 2026 about 0.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 16, 2025.
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 Lena itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Public schools in Lena
3 public schools with 834 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lena-Winslow Elem School | PK-5 | 424 | 15.1 |
| Lena-Winslow High School | 9-12 | 241 | 13.4 |
| Lena-Winslow Jr High School | 6-8 | 169 | 13.0 |
Towns near Lena
- Freeport, IL11.4 mi · 23,973 people · home $92,100
- Monroe, WI18.2 mi · 10,661 people · home $195,300
- Savanna, IL25.5 mi · 2,783 people · home $72,400
- Brodhead, WI28.1 mi · 3,274 people · home $168,800
Lena questions
Is Lena, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lena scores better for retirees than 95% of Illinois towns and quieter than 75%. 22.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.2).
How much does a house cost in Lena?
The median owner-occupied home in Lena is valued at $146,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,663, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $664 a month.
What is the weather like in Lena?
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 12.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.7 inches of precipitation a year and 35.7 inches of snow.
Does Lena get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lena since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 17, 2026. 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)