The Town FilesRiverwoods, Illinois
Village in Lake County · population 3,790 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $800,700
- Household income
- $249,205
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 50.4
Riverwoods is a village of 3,790 people in Lake County, Illinois. The median home is worth $800,700, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for young professionals than 99% of Illinois towns, more upscale than 99% of Illinois towns, better transit than 89% of Illinois towns.
How Riverwoods 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 Riverwoods is worth $800,700, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $249,205, which is more affordable than 17% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,842 a month. 93.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Riverwoods | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $800,700 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,842 | $960 |
| Median household income | $249,205 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 93.3% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.5% | — |
Who lives in Riverwoods
| People | Riverwoods | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.4 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.9% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 76.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 0.7% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 2.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 18.1% | — |
| Work from home | 24.7% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 33.8 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.7% | 90.4% |
Weather in Riverwoods
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 18.4°F. About 32.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.6 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 122 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Riverwoods since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on September 28, 1972 about 7.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 76 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on February 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 116 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 5, 2010.
Severe weather in Lake County since 1996
Lake County has been included in 17 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 |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| June 24, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1771: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lake County
Lake County had 329,354 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $91,042 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Riverwoods itself the ACS puts it at 0.7%.
Towns near Riverwoods
- Lincolnshire, IL2.0 mi · 7,940 people · home $677,700
- Deerfield, IL2.2 mi · 19,196 people · home $623,400
- Wheeling, IL3.3 mi · 39,137 people · home $266,200
- Buffalo Grove, IL3.5 mi · 43,212 people · home $412,300
- Northbrook, IL4.3 mi · 35,222 people · home $652,300
- Highland Park, IL4.4 mi · 30,176 people · home $607,300
- Lake Forest, IL4.7 mi · 19,367 people · home $938,300
- Highwood, IL4.8 mi · 5,074 people · home $405,400
Riverwoods questions
Is Riverwoods, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Riverwoods scores better for retirees than 68% of Illinois towns and quieter than 22%. 24.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.4).
How much does a house cost in Riverwoods?
The median owner-occupied home in Riverwoods is valued at $800,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $249,205, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,842 a month.
What is the weather like in Riverwoods?
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 18.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.3 inches of precipitation a year and 33.6 inches of snow.
Does Riverwoods get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Riverwoods since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on September 28, 1972. 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)