The Town FilesSt. Charles, Illinois
City in Kane County · population 33,081 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $377,400
- Household income
- $114,300
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 46 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 35
- Median age
- 41.5
St. Charles is a city of 33,081 people in Kane County, Illinois. The median home is worth $377,400, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for young professionals than 96% of Illinois towns, more vibrant than 92% of Illinois towns, more upscale than 88% of Illinois towns.
How St. Charles 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 St. Charles is worth $377,400, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $114,300, which is more affordable than 15% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,819 a month. 70.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | St. Charles | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $377,400 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,819 | $960 |
| Median household income | $114,300 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 70.3% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in St. Charles
| People | St. Charles | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.5 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.4% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 52.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.4% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 4.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.4% | — |
| Work from home | 15.2% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 27.0 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.0% | 90.4% |
Weather in St. Charles
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 16.1°F. About 33.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 46.2 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of St. Charles since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 17, 1972 about 9.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 119 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 8, 2025.
Severe weather in Kane County since 1996
Kane County has been included in 16 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 |
| October 3, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1800: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Kane County
Kane County had 213,795 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,791 a year. Unemployment was 5.1% in 2023; in St. Charles itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in St. Charles
18 public schools with 7,329 students, about 11.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Charles East High School | 9-12 | 1,984 | 13.6 |
| St Charles North High School | 9-12 | 1,902 | 14.6 |
| Thompson Middle School | 6-8 | 1,282 | 13.2 |
| Wild Rose Elem School | K-5 | 578 | 15.6 |
| Munhall Elem School | PK-5 | 552 | 14.2 |
| Davis Primary School | K-2 | 442 | 12.3 |
| Richmond Intermediate Sch | 3-5 | 368 | 11.5 |
| Lincoln Elem School | PK-5 | 221 | 13.8 |
| Northeast Academy East | 9-12 | — | — |
| Mades-Johnstone RSSP | 6-12 | — | — |
| Compass Academy | 9-12 | — | — |
| Northeast Academy North | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near St. Charles
- Geneva, IL2.8 mi · 21,393 people · home $441,400
- South Elgin, IL4.9 mi · 23,865 people · home $339,100
- West Chicago, IL4.9 mi · 25,614 people · home $336,800
- Batavia, IL5.0 mi · 26,098 people · home $387,400
- Campton Hills, IL5.9 mi · 10,885 people · home $547,500
- Bartlett, IL7.4 mi · 41,105 people · home $375,700
- North Aurora, IL7.8 mi · 18,261 people · home $342,100
- Elburn, IL8.1 mi · 6,175 people · home $389,300
St. Charles questions
Is St. Charles, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, St. Charles scores better for retirees than 52% of Illinois towns and quieter than 21%. 17.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.5).
How much does a house cost in St. Charles?
The median owner-occupied home in St. Charles is valued at $377,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $114,300, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,819 a month.
What is the weather like in St. Charles?
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 16.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.2 inches of precipitation a year and 46.2 inches of snow.
Does St. Charles get tornadoes?
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of St. Charles since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 17, 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)