The Town FilesWillow Springs, Illinois
Village in Cook County · population 5,857 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $378,300
- Household income
- $103,583
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 37
- Median age
- 42.7
Willow Springs is a village of 5,857 people in Cook County, Illinois. The median home is worth $378,300, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better transit than 87% of Illinois towns, more upscale than 83% of Illinois towns.
How Willow Springs 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 Willow Springs is worth $378,300, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $103,583, which is more affordable than 8% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,463 a month. 84.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Willow Springs | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $378,300 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,463 | $960 |
| Median household income | $103,583 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 84.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Willow Springs
| People | Willow Springs | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.7 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.8% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.1% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 20.7% | — |
| Work from home | 13.3% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 27.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.4% | 90.4% |
Weather in Willow Springs
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 14.7°F. About 41.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.8 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 45 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 131 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
37 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Willow Springs since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 13, 1976 about 3.3 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 35 deaths and 565 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 163 times; the largest was 4.80 inches on March 10, 2026.
Severe weather in Cook County since 1996
Cook County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 20, 2024 | Flood | DR-4819: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Floodng |
| November 20, 2023 | Flood | DR-4749: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| August 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4728: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Cook County
Cook County had 2,565,567 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $86,931 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Willow Springs itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Public schools in Willow Springs
1 public school with 410 students, about 13.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Willow Springs Elem School | PK-8 | 410 | 13.2 |
Towns near Willow Springs
- Burr Ridge, IL2.1 mi · 11,192 people · home $700,400
- Indian Head Park, IL2.5 mi · 4,065 people · home $356,600
- Countryside, IL2.8 mi · 6,420 people · home $324,700
- Hickory Hills, IL3.0 mi · 14,505 people · home $288,000
- Justice, IL3.2 mi · 12,600 people · home $238,400
- Willowbrook, IL3.8 mi · 9,236 people · home $358,600
- Palos Hills, IL3.8 mi · 18,530 people · home $279,200
- Bridgeview, IL4.0 mi · 17,027 people · home $236,400
Willow Springs questions
Is Willow Springs, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Willow Springs scores better for retirees than 55% of Illinois towns and quieter than 42%. 20.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.7).
How much does a house cost in Willow Springs?
The median owner-occupied home in Willow Springs is valued at $378,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $103,583, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,463 a month.
What is the weather like in Willow Springs?
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 14.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.4 inches of precipitation a year and 38.8 inches of snow.
Does Willow Springs get tornadoes?
37 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Willow Springs since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 13, 1976. 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)