The Town FilesPoplar Grove, Illinois
Village in Boone County · population 5,049 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $270,700
- Household income
- $120,278
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 36.5
Poplar Grove is a village of 5,049 people in Boone County, Illinois. The median home is worth $270,700, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for families than 87% of Illinois towns, easier by car than 86% of Illinois towns, more upscale than 85% of Illinois towns.
How Poplar Grove 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 Poplar Grove is worth $270,700, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $120,278, which is more affordable than 45% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,395 a month. 92.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Poplar Grove | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $270,700 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,395 | $960 |
| Median household income | $120,278 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 92.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 2002 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Poplar Grove
| People | Poplar Grove | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.5 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.7% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 30.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.1% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.7% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.1% | — |
| Work from home | 3.7% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 29.0 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.7% | 90.4% |
Weather in Poplar Grove
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 12.7°F. About 37.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 32.6 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 147 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Poplar Grove since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 21, 1967 about 7.2 miles from the town center and killed 24. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 26 deaths and 501 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 80 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 13, 2006.
Severe weather in Boone County since 1996
Boone County has been included in 11 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 |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 13, 2008 | Snowstorm | EM-3283: Record Snow And Near Record Snow |
| December 29, 2006 | Snowstorm | EM-3269: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Boone County
Boone County had 11,526 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,414 a year. Unemployment was 7% in 2023; in Poplar Grove itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Public schools in Poplar Grove
5 public schools with 1,332 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Boone High School | 9-12 | 493 | 15.4 |
| North Boone Middle School | 7-8 | 250 | 14.7 |
| Poplar Grove Elem School | K-4 | 248 | 11.8 |
| North Boone Upper Elem Sch | 5-6 | 202 | 11.9 |
| Manchester Elem School | K-4 | 139 | 13.9 |
Towns near Poplar Grove
- Candlewick Lake, IL1.4 mi · 5,115 people · home $172,300
- Belvidere, IL6.3 mi · 25,339 people · home $158,900
- Loves Park, IL8.0 mi · 23,397 people · home $160,400
- Machesney Park, IL9.3 mi · 22,950 people · home $173,700
- Roscoe, IL9.9 mi · 10,983 people · home $227,800
- Cherry Valley, IL10.5 mi · 2,905 people · home $232,800
- Harvard, IL12.6 mi · 9,469 people · home $175,400
- Rockford, IL12.9 mi · 148,655 people · home $129,000
Poplar Grove questions
Is Poplar Grove, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Poplar Grove scores better for retirees than 30% of Illinois towns and quieter than 53%. 14.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.5).
How much does a house cost in Poplar Grove?
The median owner-occupied home in Poplar Grove is valued at $270,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $120,278, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $1,395 a month.
What is the weather like in Poplar Grove?
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 12.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.6 inches of precipitation a year and 32.6 inches of snow.
Does Poplar Grove get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Poplar Grove 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)