The Town FilesOswego, Illinois
Village in Kendall County · population 34,585 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $344,500
- Household income
- $123,792
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 45
- Median age
- 38.7
Oswego is a village of 34,585 people in Kendall County, Illinois. The median home is worth $344,500, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more upscale than 84% of Illinois towns, better for young professionals than 78% of Illinois towns, more vibrant than 74% of Illinois towns.
How Oswego 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 Oswego is worth $344,500, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $123,792, which is more affordable than 27% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,860 a month. 87.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Oswego | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $344,500 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,860 | $960 |
| Median household income | $123,792 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 87.9% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 2002 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Oswego
| People | Oswego | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.7 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.0% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 44.3% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.6% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 14.3% | — |
| Work from home | 17.5% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 31.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.2% | 90.4% |
Weather in Oswego
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 16.0°F. About 39.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
45 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oswego since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on August 28, 1990 about 0.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 30 deaths and 370 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 14, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 134 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on May 12, 2000.
Severe weather in Kendall County since 1996
Kendall County has been included in 13 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 |
| October 3, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1800: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| December 29, 2006 | Snowstorm | EM-3269: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Kendall County
Kendall County had 30,329 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,205 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Oswego itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Public schools in Oswego
14 public schools with 11,475 students, about 15.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oswego High School | 9-12 | 2,866 | 17.3 |
| Oswego East High School | 9-12 | 2,805 | 17.6 |
| Traughber Jr High School | 6-8 | 1,074 | 18.5 |
| Thompson Jr High School | 6-8 | 837 | 17.4 |
| Fox Chase Elementary School | K-5 | 663 | 17.4 |
| Southbury Elem School | K-5 | 605 | 15.5 |
| Plank Junior High | 6-8 | 605 | 12.6 |
| Prairie Point Elem School | K-5 | 447 | 15.4 |
| Churchill Elem School | K-5 | 436 | 13.6 |
| Old Post Elementary School | K-5 | 414 | 14.3 |
| Hunt Club Elem | K-5 | 376 | 9.6 |
| Brokaw Early Learning Center | PK-PK | 347 | 19.3 |
Towns near Oswego
- Boulder Hill, IL1.9 mi · 8,394 people · home $238,700
- Montgomery, IL2.8 mi · 20,262 people · home $299,500
- Yorkville, IL4.9 mi · 21,533 people · home $335,300
- Aurora, IL6.1 mi · 180,542 people · home $274,800
- Plainfield, IL7.3 mi · 44,762 people · home $431,400
- Sugar Grove, IL8.6 mi · 9,278 people · home $401,900
- North Aurora, IL8.7 mi · 18,261 people · home $342,100
- Plano, IL10.2 mi · 11,847 people · home $230,700
Oswego questions
Is Oswego, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Oswego scores better for retirees than 22% of Illinois towns and quieter than 31%. 11.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.7).
How much does a house cost in Oswego?
The median owner-occupied home in Oswego is valued at $344,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $123,792, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $1,860 a month.
What is the weather like in Oswego?
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 16.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.5 inches of precipitation a year and 27.9 inches of snow.
Does Oswego get tornadoes?
45 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oswego since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on August 28, 1990. 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)