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Living in
Fox Lake.
About
Life in Fox Lake
Fox Lake is a community of 10,872 people in Illinois. The median household income is $70,819, median rent runs about $1,047 per month, and median home values are around $228,100. The unemployment rate is 4.7%.
Fox Lake at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
42.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.1%
Foreign-Born
10.9%
Broadband Internet
89.6%
of households
Population Growth
-1.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics10.9% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Fox Lake: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Fox Lake, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (36.4%), and 10.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
16.3%
of residents
65 and Older
21.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
21.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
38.0%
of households
Married Couples
40.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.10
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 18% below IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Fox Lake
In Fox Lake, rent runs 18% below the IL average, and home values are 13% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
63.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
29.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,982
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
67.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1978
median year built
Vacant Homes
12.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $259,313 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IL
Unemployment in Fox Lake and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Lake County, which includes Fox Lake, is close to the IL average.
Unemployment rate
Fox Lake: Lake County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Lake County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Fox Lake is about 2% of Lake County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Fox Lake Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI metro area
Commute33.8 min avg
How Fox Lake residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Fox Lake, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 41% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 32 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 19% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Fox Lake runs 19% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
265.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
852
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Fox Lake Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 17 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
96.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Lake County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Lake County, which includes Fox Lake, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 17 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 16 | Hail | None reported |
| 2022 | 30 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 24 | Drought | None reported |
| 2020 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 26 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2018 | 19 | Flood | $70,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Lake County, county-wide
Fox Lake is about 2% of Lake County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Lake County, which includes Fox Lake, is typically good.
Median AQI
39
Lake County, county-wide
Fox Lake is about 2% of Lake County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate80°F summers, 18°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Fox Lake has warm summers (avg high 80°F) and very cold winters (avg low 18°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
57°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
60°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
33°/18°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
40.2"
Annual Snowfall
43.4"
Hot Days/Year
12
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
133
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
124
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30°F | 15°F | 2.07" |
| Feb | 34°F | 18°F | 1.89" |
| Mar | 45°F | 27°F | 2.64" |
| Apr | 57°F | 37°F | 4.12" |
| May | 69°F | 48°F | 4.44" |
| Jun | 78°F | 58°F | 4.20" |
| Jul | 82°F | 63°F | 3.92" |
| Aug | 81°F | 62°F | 3.27" |
| Sep | 73°F | 54°F | 3.36" |
| Oct | 60°F | 43°F | 3.04" |
| Nov | 47°F | 31°F | 2.54" |
| Dec | 35°F | 21°F | 2.28" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Fox Lake
Uninsured
11.3%
of residents
No hospitals inside Fox Lake's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Northwestern Medicine Mchenry
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.7 mi away · Mchenry
Mercyhealth Hospital & Physician Clinic-crystal La
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.1 mi away · Crystal Lake
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education13.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Fox Lake
Fox Lake's student/teacher ratio is 13.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 25.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
25.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Pullman National Historical Park, 58 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Fox Lake
Fox Lake has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (58 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
58 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
78 mi awayPublic Libraries in Fox Lake
Fox Lake Public Library District
255 East Grand Avenue, Fox Lake
Cities Near Fox Lake
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Fox Lake?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Fox Lake FAQ
Is Fox Lake, Illinois affordable?⌄
Fox Lake's median rent is $1,047/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $70,819/year. Median home value is $228,100.
Is Fox Lake, Illinois safe?⌄
Fox Lake's violent crime rate was 266 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 852 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Fox Lake, Illinois?⌄
Lake County, which includes Fox Lake, has an unemployment rate of 4.7%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Fox Lake, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Fox Lake is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,047/month and median household income is $70,819/year. The median home value is $228,100. About 64% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Fox Lake, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Fox Lake is 34 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from