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Willow Lake, IL
Census-designated place in Stephenson County, Illinois.
Population
764
Land area
2.7sq mi
People per sq mi
280
ZIP codes
0
Willow Lake and its ZIP codes
Willow Lake at a glance
- Households here earn a median of $100,568 a year, 21% more than the Illinois figure of $83,390.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $162,200 (38% below Illinois).
Local data for Willow Lake, IL
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Willow Lake, IL, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$100,568
Poverty rate
6.4%
Median home value
$162,200
Homeownership
94.9%
Bachelor's or higher
22.7%
Median age
57.0
Average commute
20.5 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (374), Irish Americans (164), Dutch Americans (39).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Stephenson County. PPP loans are for Willow Lake.
Unemployment rate
3.8%
Sep 2026, -0.6 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$57,022
17,408 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$57,610
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$312M
FY 2026, $6,984 per person
How people get to work
Willow Lake, IL, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone89.7%
- Carpooled0.0%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked0.0%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home10.3%
Average one-way commute: 20.5 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Willow Lake, IL, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: hail
Storm events since 1996
697
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
48
0.3% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
82° / 11°F
38.4 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in Willow Lake, IL, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
38.5%
U.S. 33.3% +5.2 pts
Diabetes
14.0%
U.S. 12.1% +1.9 pts
Smoking
13.1%
U.S. 12.8% about the same
Uninsured (18-64)
6.0%
U.S. 11.1% -5.1 pts
Cities near Willow Lake
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| CedarvilleVillage | 2.9 mi | 0.5 |
| FreeportCity | 3.6 mi | 11.9 |
| DakotaVillage | 6.9 mi | 0.2 |
| RidottVillage | 8.8 mi | 0.1 |
| OrangevilleVillage | 9.1 mi | 0.7 |
| BaileyvilleCensus-designated place | 9.6 mi | 0.2 |
| LenaVillage | 9.9 mi | 2.7 |
| Rock CityVillage | 10 mi | 0.1 |
| Pearl CityVillage | 11 mi | 0.6 |
| German ValleyVillage | 11 mi | 0.5 |
| DavisVillage | 13 mi | 0.4 |
| ShannonVillage | 14 mi | 0.5 |
| WinslowVillage | 14 mi | 0.5 |
| ForrestonVillage | 14 mi | 0.9 |
| PecatonicaVillage | 15 mi | 1.3 |
| Lake SummersetCensus-designated place | 15 mi | 2.1 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Willow Lake, IL in?
- Willow Lake is in Stephenson County, Illinois.
- What is the population of Willow Lake, IL?
- About 764 people live in Willow Lake, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Willow Lake?
- Nearby places include Cedarville (2.9 mi), Freeport (3.6 mi), Dakota (6.9 mi), Ridott (8.8 mi), Orangeville (9.1 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023