Stephenson County, Illinois
Among the top 22% of US counties for lifestyle & connectivity.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade D, better than 21% of US counties
WeatherWeather: grade C, better than 41% of US counties
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade C, better than 36% of US counties
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade B, better than 68% of US counties
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade B+, better than 78% of US counties
- top 8% for comfortable days
- top 14% for amenities nearby
- bottom 1% for property tax rate
Stephenson County is a county in Illinois with about 44,000 residents. It grades B+ for lifestyle & connectivity and D for affordability. Standout strengths include comfortable days, amenities nearby, and school quality. It rates lower on sunny days and property tax rate.
Official websiteco.stephenson.il.us (opens in new tab)
Climate
Warm summers · Cold winters · Moderate rain · Snowy
freez.
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67%40%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.6 in1.7 in
humid 97%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$58k40th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$44kbetter than 59% of US counties
Home Value$122k27th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$755better than 66% of US counties
Monthly Owner Costs$1kbetter than 55% of US counties
Property Tax Rate2.50%better than 1% of US counties
Income Tax5.00%better than 46% of US counties
Sales Tax8.86%better than 15% of US counties
Estimated total tax burden13.22%better than 13% of US counties
Unemployment5.3%better than 38% of US counties
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)21°F14th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)73°F23rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation38.7 in40th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall34.9 inbetter than 24% of US counties
Sunny Days184 daysbetter than 7% of US counties
Summer Humidity63°Fbetter than 64% of US counties
Comfortable Days100 daysbetter than 92% of US counties
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk73.9better than 25% of US counties
School Quality73.8better than 78% of US counties
Violent Crime1524/100kbetter than 15% of US counties
Property Crime925/100kbetter than 49% of US counties
Community
Population44,48266th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age45.681st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.3053rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9620th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+1627th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)81.0%50th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)8.7%74th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)4.6%48th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)0.9%66th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)4.9%77th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time22 minbetter than 67% of US counties
Walkability6.5/20better than 62% of US counties
Airport Distance94 mibetter than 52% of US counties
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access84.2%better than 56% of US counties
Amenities Nearby10.34better than 86% of US counties
Park & Nature AccessGoodbetter than 57% of US counties
Frequently asked questions
- Is Stephenson County an affordable place to live?
- Stephenson County is about average in cost. Its cost-of-living index is $44k, better than 59% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Stephenson County?
- The median home value in Stephenson County is $122k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Stephenson County?
- Median household income in Stephenson County is $58k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Stephenson County?
- Median gross rent in Stephenson County is $755 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Stephenson County safe?
- Stephenson County is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 1524/100k (better than 15%). Property crime is 925/100k.
- What is the weather like in Stephenson County?
- Stephenson County averages 73°F in July and 21°F in January, with 38.7 in of annual precipitation and about 184 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Stephenson County?
- Public-school quality in Stephenson County is above average, scoring better than 78% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Stephenson County?
- The average one-way commute in Stephenson County is 22 min.
Other counties in Illinois
Explore Illinois
Data sources
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)