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Living in Winnebago IL will be a win for you and your family! According to the Village of Winnebago, the first White settler in what is now Winnebago was David Adams Holt, who arrived in 1835. A farming community formed quickly, with people moving to Winnebago to work on farms. By 1850, Winnebago had a population of almost 500. The community was initially known as "Elida," changing its name to Winnebago in the 1850s in honor of the Winnebago tribe that first inhabited the area.
Winnebago became an incorporated village in 1879, and it continued to expand and modernize during the 20th century. Winnebago is now a nice place to live, offering a quiet, rural atmosphere, affordable homes for sale, and top schools. The motto of Winnebago is "Welcome to Wonderful Winnebago." The village is best known for its family-friendly atmosphere and outdoor destinations like the Winnebago County Fair and Edwards Apple Orchard West.
Moving to Winnebago may be perfect for you and your children. Here's what you should know about living in Winnebago IL.
Winnebago is in Winnebago County, Illinois, inside a largely undeveloped and rural area. Farmland and green areas border the community on all sides, and the nearest communities to Winnebago are unincorporated communities like Alworth and Westlake Village. Winnebago itself is a well-developed community with a gridlike street structure and tree-lined streets. The village is largely residential, with a few undeveloped areas on its outskirts.
Winnebago is inside the Rockford, Illinois, metropolitan area. Although it shares the same name as the county, Winnebago is not the county seat. Rockford is the county seat and home of most county government buildings. It is 8.8 miles from Rockford to Winnebago, so Winnebago is a suburb of Rockford, and many people are moving to Winnebago from Rockford.
The Reagan Mass Transit District (RMTD) provides public transportation services in Winnebago. The district offers curb-to-curb transportation using shuttles, not fixed route transportation with buses or trains. You can order rides in advance, including to adjacent counties and communities like Rockton. You can use RMTD services for moving to Winnebago, and you can also drive using U.S. Route 20, which provides easy access to Rockford and cities near Rockford like Belvidere.
Winnebago Population and Demographics
According to the US Census, the Winnebago population in 2020 was 2,940, down by 5.2% since 2010. The Rockford metropolitan area had 338,798 people in 2020, so Winnebago is one of the smallest incorporated communities in the metro area. The 2010s were the first decade in over a century during which the Winnebago population shrank. Between 1940 and 2010, the population increased five times over. The Winnebago population density in 2020 was 1,520.6 people living in Winnebago IL per square mile, roughly 10 times the countywide population density.
Racial and ethnic composition of individuals living in Winnebago IL: 91.0% White (89.8% non-Hispanic), 6.3% two or more races, 3.1% Hispanic or Latino, 1.1% Black or African American, 0.6% Asian, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native
Median household income of residents living in Winnebago IL: $82,813 (roughly 1.4% higher than the state median)
Educational attainment of people living in Winnebago IL: 92.0% of residents older than 25 have graduated from high school, 26.9% have a bachelor's degree
Foreign-born population of residents living in Winnebago IL: 3.0%
Winnebago is popular among seniors, with 24.3% of residents being 65 years of age and older, roughly 1.5 times higher than the state rate. Winnebago is also very popular among married couples, with 60.4% of residents over the age of 15 being married. Married couples head 70.4% of households in Winnebago. 9.2% of people living in Winnebago IL are veterans, nearly double the state rate, with 46 Vietnam War veterans currently living in the community. The per capita income of residents living in Winnebago IL is $43,296, almost equal to the state per capita income.
Winnebago is a very safe community to live in, with most residents living in Winnebago IL never experiencing crime. Here are FBI crime statistics for Winnebago from 2024, provided by Beautify Data:
Total crime rate: 524.48 crimes per 100,000 individuals living in Winnebago IL (86.6% lower than the Rockford crime rate, 73.8% lower than the Illinois crime rate, 75.2% lower than the national average)
Violent crime rate: 34.97 offenses per 100,000 residents living in Winnebago IL (87.9% lower than the Illinois crime rate, 90.3% lower than the national average)
Property crime rate: 489.51 crimes per 100,000 people living in Winnebago IL (71.5% lower than the state rate, 72.2% lower than the national average)
The Winnebago Police Department employs eight police officers living in Winnebago IL who respond to all emergencies in Winnebago.
Cost of Living in Winnebago IL
Winnebago cost of living statistics can be hard to find due to the community's small size and rural location. You can use Rockford cost of living statistics to make an estimate of the cost of living in Winnebago IL. The Rockford cost of living index is 93.2, meaning items in the Rockford metropolitan area cost 6.8% less than the national average.
According to the Economic Policy Institute, a family of four living in Illinois Winnebago County would need to earn $97,434 to cover their cost of living. Winnebago is an affordable place to live, and you can find simple ways to lower your expenses even further while living in Winnebago IL, like buying affordable Winnebago IL real estate.
The Winnebago IL real estate market is affordable, with options for single family homes you can't find in smaller towns. According to Redfin, the median cost of Winnebago homes for sale is $215,000, with a median price per square foot of $123. The national median is $428,346, so the median cost of Winnebago homes for sale is almost half the national median. There are very few Winnebago apartments available, so statistics for the average rent in Winnebago are hard to find.
Winnebago Neighborhoods | Where to Live in Winnebago, IL
Winnebago does not have any neighborhoods due to its small size. The real estate market contains single family homes almost exclusively, with townhomes and condos being unavailable. There is no one popular architectural style in Winnebago, but nearly all Winnebago homes for sale have at least three bedrooms, making them suitable for families moving to Winnebago. Some homes cover less than 2,000 square feet and have more traditional features like cathedral ceilings and dining nooks.
Other homes cover over 4,000 square feet and have modern features like marble fireplaces and quartz countertops. Prices can vary significantly, with homes costing as little as $119,000 and as much as $650,000.
Westlake Village is the only prominent HOA in Winnebago. The HOA covers 660 acres and offers 770 home sites. Westlake Village is home to a private beach used for swimming and volleyball, a kid-friendly playground, and a swimming pool with water aerobics and swimming classes. You can buy half-acre land lots or pre-constructed condos with three or four bedrooms and between 1,318 and 3,270 square feet.
Most condos have been constructed within the last 15 years and contain features like Brazilian hardwood flooring, stone fireplaces, and open floor plans. Prices for condos start at $245,000.
Winnebago IL Weather and Climate
Winnebago has a humid continental climate, with warm and rainy summers and freezing and snowy winters. According to Weather Spark, July is the hottest month of Winnebago IL weather, with an average temperature of 73 degrees and an average high of 83. Temperatures remain warm between mid-May and mid-September, and temperatures undergo a large decline in the autumn. January is the coldest month of the year, with an average temperature of 21 degrees and an average low of 15. Average lows are below freezing between mid-November and late March.
Winnebago receives an average of 29.0 inches of rainfall and 16.5 inches of snow. The Winnebago IL weather is mostly cloudy in the winter but mostly sunny in the summer. The high rainfall creates humidity in the summer, with most days in July and August feeling humid. Winnebago can experience severe weather, including snowstorms and dangerously low temperatures in the winter. You should follow weather forecasts from local channels like WTVO to avoid dangerous winter weather.
August is the best month to visit and start moving to Winnebago. The average temperature is 71 degrees, warm enough that you can stay comfortable in a short-sleeved shirt and shorts. 68% of days in August are sunny, so you can leave your umbrella and rain jacket at home while visiting popular outdoor attractions.
Things to Do in Winnebago
You can enjoy top and unique things to do in Winnebago, including outdoor points of interest and locally-run and affordable stores!Sullivan's Foods is the top grocery store, and you can also go shopping at Family Dollar and Dollar General.
Edwards Apple Orchard West is an apple orchard open between late August and Thanksgiving weekend. You can pick 18 different types of apples, including Pixie Crunch, Crimson Crisp, and Granny Smith apples. You can also pick your own pumpkins, pet animals in an on-site petting farm, and buy gifts in a 100-year-old dairy barn.
WyldSide Paintball is an outside paintball venue open every Saturday and Sunday. You can rent out the venue for private games on any day of the week, with all private games having a staging area and a personal referee.
The Brauer Barn is the top event venue in Winnebago. The venue contains a historic wooden barn from the early 1900s available for weddings, birthday parties, corporate events, and other special occasions.
The Winnebago Park District takes care of public areas and parks in Winnebago and plans special events, including festivals celebrating Winnebago history and athletics programs for adults and children. You can use the Village of Winnebago events calendar to see what events are occurring while living in Winnebago IL.
Winnebago IL Restaurants
The Rockford area is well-known for its fresh cuisine, including potatoes and Angus beef from local farms. You can enjoy fresh produce and farm-to-table options from several Winnebago IL restaurants, as well as family-friendly eateries with options for teens.
Cimino's Ristorante and Pizza is a casual Italian restaurant and pizzeria that offers specialty pizzas, calzones, and pastas, including baked tortellini. Most menu options cost less than $15, and Cimino's offers daily specials with discounts on large pizzas and pasta dinners.
La Leona is a family-friendly and quaint Mexican restaurant open for lunch and dinner. You can order chimichangas, enchiladas, and burritos for less than $20. You can also order combination platters with tacos, chile relleno, and quesadillas for less than $13, making La Leona one of the most affordable restaurants in Winnebago.
The Post Sports Bar is the best restaurant in Winnebago for dates and alcoholic drinks. The Post is best known for its half-pound burgers, but you can also order Italian beef and pork tenderloins for less than $10.
According to the US Census, 1,451 people had jobs in Winnebago in 2023. Educational services, health care, manufacturing, and retail trade are the biggest sectors for Winnebago jobs. Educational services and healthcare combined account for almost one-quarter Winnebago employment opportunities. 13.0% of Winnebago jobs are government jobs, with most working for the village government.
According to Payscale, the average base salary in Winnebago is $49,000 a year, while the average hourly rate is $19.48 per hour. Major employers in Winnebago include Bergstrom, Collins Aerospace, and Mercyhealth. You can also research and apply for jobs in Winnebago on Indeed, and you can apply for Village of Winnebago jobs on the village government's website.
Schools in Winnebago
Winnebago Community Unit School District #323 (Winnebago CUSD) is the official Winnebago IL school district, serving all students living in Winnebago IL. The Winnebago IL school district has four schools, including two elementary schools:
US News ranks Winnebago Middle School in the top 300 middle schools in Illinois. US News also ranks Winnebago High School in the top 400 high schools in Illinois. The high school is home to state championship cross country, soccer, and bowling teams.
Winnebago is not home to any private schools or colleges. The closest college to Winnebago is Rock Valley College in Rockford. The Winnebago Public Library is in Winnebago and serves all residents living in Winnebago IL, as well as residents living north, south, and northwest of Winnebago.
Winnebago Statistics and Information
County: Winnebago County
Winnebago area: 1.93 square miles
Winnebago zip code: 61088
Winnebago area code: 815
Winnebago elevation: 869 feet
Winnebago time zone: Central Time Zone (UTC -5/-6)
Winnebago IL is in Winnebago County, in the southwestern part of the county. Rockford is the county seat, not Winnebago, despite the community sharing the name of the county. Winnebago is in southern Winnebago County, but it’s within driving distance of Rockford, so you can access county offices and amenities easily.
Where Is Winnebago County IL?
Winnebago County is located in northern Illinois, just south of the Illinois-Wisconsin border. It is east of Stephenson County, west of Boone County, northwest of Chicago, and southwest of Milwaukee. Winnebago County is in a mostly rural and undeveloped area with a lot of farmland and green spaces, but you can find it on a map by looking up and to the left of Chicago.
What Does Winnebago Mean?
According to the Milwaukee Public Museum,"Winnebago" is derived from an Algonquin word meaning "people of the dirty water."The "dirty water" likely refers to the Fox River or Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin, not any body of water in current-day Winnebago. Winnebago IL gets its name from the Winnebago people, who used to have settlements in and around the area.
Winnebago IL Map
You can use this map of Winnebago IL, to find great things to do, restaurants, and other amenities in the community.
Start Living in Winnebago IL Now
Living in Winnebago IL is perfect for seniors, married couples, and families with young children alike! You can enjoy small-town America in a location with low crime rates, convenient access to outdoor attractions, and affordable and spacious homes for sale.
Moving to Winnebago isn't tricky. StraightLine Moving has the best Winnebago IL movers, with over 5,000 successful relocations over the last 10 years. Call 815-708-7875 for a free estimate now.
