The Town FilesOregon, Illinois
City in Ogle County · population 3,604 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $142,600
- Household income
- $71,841
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 45.0
Oregon is a city of 3,604 people in Ogle County, Illinois. The median home is worth $142,600, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more of a college town than 91% of Illinois towns, better for retirees than 90% of Illinois towns, better transit than 84% of Illinois towns.
How Oregon 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 Oregon is worth $142,600, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $71,841, which is more affordable than 61% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $916 a month. 58.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Oregon | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $142,600 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $916 | $960 |
| Median household income | $71,841 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 58.7% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Oregon
| People | Oregon | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.0 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.8% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.8% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 14.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 4.6% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 22.0 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.7% | 90.4% |
Weather in Oregon
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 13.3°F. About 40.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 32.3 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 138 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oregon since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 9, 2015 about 9.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 2, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 20, 2014.
Severe weather in Ogle County since 1996
Ogle 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 |
| 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 Ogle County
Ogle County had 14,934 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,187 a year. Unemployment was 5.4% in 2023; in Oregon itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in Oregon
3 public schools with 1,407 students, about 15.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon Elem Sch | PK-6 | 769 | 15.4 |
| Oregon Jr/Sr High School | 7-12 | 638 | 14.8 |
| Rock River Challenge | 6-12 | — | — |
Towns near Oregon
- Mount Morris, IL5.4 mi · 2,861 people · home $121,800
- Byron, IL8.3 mi · 3,784 people · home $198,700
- Dixon, IL13.8 mi · 15,274 people · home $120,800
- Davis Junction, IL14.4 mi · 2,512 people · home $205,500
- Rochelle, IL15.4 mi · 9,446 people · home $164,300
- Winnebago, IL18.3 mi · 2,940 people · home $194,000
- Rockford, IL22.0 mi · 148,655 people · home $129,000
- Sterling, IL23.7 mi · 14,764 people · home $108,700
Oregon questions
Is Oregon, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Oregon scores better for retirees than 90% of Illinois towns and quieter than 34%. 22.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.0).
How much does a house cost in Oregon?
The median owner-occupied home in Oregon is valued at $142,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,841, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $916 a month.
What is the weather like in Oregon?
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 13.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.0 inches of precipitation a year and 32.3 inches of snow.
Does Oregon get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oregon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on April 9, 2015. 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)