The Town FilesLoves Park, Illinois
City in Winnebago County · population 23,397 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $160,400
- Household income
- $61,868
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 37.2
Loves Park is a city of 23,397 people in Winnebago County, Illinois. The median home is worth $160,400, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for cycling than 92% of Illinois towns, more vibrant than 83% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 75% of Illinois towns.
How Loves Park 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 Loves Park is worth $160,400, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $61,868, which is more affordable than 35% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,120 a month. 60.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Loves Park | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $160,400 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,120 | $960 |
| Median household income | $61,868 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 60.9% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Loves Park
| People | Loves Park | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.2 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.5% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.4% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.1% | — |
| Work from home | 8.8% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 21.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.6% | 90.4% |
Weather in Loves Park
July highs average 83.9°F and January lows 14.5°F. About 37.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.0 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 136 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Loves Park since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 21, 1967 about 9.1 miles from the town center and killed 24. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 25 deaths and 460 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 134 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 2, 2018.
Severe weather in Winnebago County since 1996
Winnebago County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 20, 2024 | Flood | DR-4819: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Floodng |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Winnebago County
Winnebago County had 126,415 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,400 a year. Unemployment was 6.2% in 2023; in Loves Park itself the ACS puts it at 6.3%.
Public schools in Loves Park
9 public schools with 2,522 students, about 12.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harlem Middle School | 7-8 | 951 | 12.0 |
| Rock Cut Elem School | 1-6 | 419 | 14.0 |
| Maple Elem School | 1-6 | 410 | 17.1 |
| Windsor Elem School | 1-6 | 373 | 13.3 |
| Loves Park Elem School | 1-6 | 369 | 13.2 |
| Summit Academy TAOEP | 6-12 | — | — |
| Summit Academy ALOP | 9-12 | — | — |
| Summit Academy RSSP | 6-12 | — | — |
| Career Educ Assoc of N Central IL | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Loves Park
- Machesney Park, IL2.4 mi · 22,950 people · home $173,700
- Roscoe, IL6.1 mi · 10,983 people · home $227,800
- Rockford, IL6.4 mi · 148,655 people · home $129,000
- Candlewick Lake, IL6.6 mi · 5,115 people · home $172,300
- Cherry Valley, IL7.2 mi · 2,905 people · home $232,800
- Belvidere, IL7.6 mi · 25,339 people · home $158,900
- Poplar Grove, IL8.0 mi · 5,049 people · home $270,700
- Rockton, IL8.2 mi · 7,863 people · home $235,400
Loves Park questions
Is Loves Park, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Loves Park scores better for retirees than 31% of Illinois towns and quieter than 22%. 18.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.2).
How much does a house cost in Loves Park?
The median owner-occupied home in Loves Park is valued at $160,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,868, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,120 a month.
What is the weather like in Loves Park?
July highs average 83.9°F and January lows 14.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.2 inches of precipitation a year and 38.0 inches of snow.
Does Loves Park get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Loves Park 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)