The Town FilesZion, Illinois
City in Lake County · population 24,655 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $183,800
- Household income
- $63,104
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 32.3
Zion is a city of 24,655 people in Lake County, Illinois. The median home is worth $183,800, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 94% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 92% of Illinois towns, more vibrant than 79% of Illinois towns.
How Zion 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 Zion is worth $183,800, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $63,104, which is more affordable than 24% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,186 a month. 57.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Zion | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $183,800 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,186 | $960 |
| Median household income | $63,104 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 57.8% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Zion
| People | Zion | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.3 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.4% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.1% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 19.2% | — |
| Work from home | 8.1% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 27.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.5% | 90.4% |
Weather in Zion
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 16.0°F. About 35.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.2 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 132 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Zion since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on September 28, 1972 about 6.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 3, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on May 2, 2018.
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 Zion itself the ACS puts it at 6.7%.
Public schools in Zion
9 public schools with 4,734 students, about 14.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zion-Benton Twnshp Hi Sch | 9-12 | 2,159 | 15.4 |
| West Elementary School | 3-5 | 448 | 16.6 |
| New Tech High - Zion-Benton East | 9-12 | 414 | 16.6 |
| Shiloh Park Middle School | 6-8 | 351 | 13.0 |
| Zion Central Middle School | 6-8 | 342 | 11.8 |
| East Elementary School | PK-2 | 266 | 15.6 |
| Beulah Park Elem School | PK-2 | 264 | 12.0 |
| Lakeview School | PK-2 | 262 | 16.4 |
| Elmwood Elem School | 3-5 | 228 | 11.4 |
Towns near Zion
- Beach Park, IL1.7 mi · 14,249 people · home $245,800
- Winthrop Harbor, IL1.8 mi · 6,705 people · home $250,800
- Wadsworth, IL3.8 mi · 3,517 people · home $378,900
- Pleasant Prairie, WI5.0 mi · 21,250 people · home $360,400
- Waukegan, IL6.3 mi · 89,321 people · home $190,900
- Gurnee, IL7.6 mi · 30,706 people · home $344,300
- Park City, IL7.6 mi · 7,885 people · home $57,400
- Grandwood Park, IL8.5 mi · 5,297 people · home $330,500
Zion questions
Is Zion, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Zion scores better for retirees than 4% of Illinois towns and quieter than 4%. 11.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.3).
How much does a house cost in Zion?
The median owner-occupied home in Zion is valued at $183,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,104, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $1,186 a month.
What is the weather like in Zion?
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 16.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.3 inches of precipitation a year and 36.2 inches of snow.
Does Zion get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Zion 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)