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Living in
Freeport.
About
Life in Freeport
Freeport is a community of 23,636 people in Illinois. The median household income is $51,723, median rent runs about $793 per month, and median home values are around $92,100. The unemployment rate is 5.0%.
Freeport at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
42.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
19.6%
Foreign-Born
3.3%
Broadband Internet
84.9%
of households
Population Growth
-3.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.3% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Freeport: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Freeport, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (32.1%), and 2.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.2%
of residents
65 and Older
24.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
23.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
38.2%
of households
Married Couples
33.6%
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 38% below IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Freeport
In Freeport, rent runs 38% below the IL average, and home values are 65% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
41.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.7%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$2,411
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
59.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1957
median year built
Vacant Homes
10.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $128,352 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts above IL average
Unemployment in Freeport
Unemployment in Freeport is 0.4 percentage points higher than the IL average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Freeport Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute15.9 min avg
How Freeport residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Freeport, most residents drive alone to work (74%), and 80% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 28 mi
Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD)
Regional airport · few flights146k passengers boarded in 2025
- 90 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 23% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Freeport runs 23% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
252.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,124.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Freeport Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 5 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
73.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Stephenson County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Stephenson County, which includes Freeport, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 5 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2024 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 9 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2022 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 17 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2018 | 13 | Winter Weather | $10,000 |
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.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Stephenson County, county-wide
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Winnebago County, IL (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 24 miles from Freeport) is typically good — 244 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
40
Good Days
244
per year
Moderate Days
105
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Winnebago County, IL (24 mi away)
Climate81°F summers, 15°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Freeport has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and very cold winters (avg low 15°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/40°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
31°/15°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
38.4"
Annual Snowfall
34.5"
Hot Days/Year
11
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
148
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
116
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28°F | 11°F | 1.58" |
| Feb | 33°F | 15°F | 1.65" |
| Mar | 45°F | 26°F | 2.15" |
| Apr | 58°F | 36°F | 3.66" |
| May | 70°F | 48°F | 4.36" |
| Jun | 79°F | 59°F | 5.26" |
| Jul | 82°F | 62°F | 4.21" |
| Aug | 81°F | 60°F | 4.21" |
| Sep | 74°F | 51°F | 4.11" |
| Oct | 62°F | 39°F | 2.98" |
| Nov | 46°F | 28°F | 2.36" |
| Dec | 33°F | 18°F | 1.83" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Freeport
Freeport has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
6.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Fhn Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
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.
Education13.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Freeport
Freeport's student/teacher ratio is 13.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 19.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
19.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Effigy Mounds National Monument, 96 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Freeport
Freeport has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Effigy Mounds National Monument (96 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Effigy Mounds National Monument
National Monument
96 mi awayHerbert Hoover National Historic Site
National Historic Site
98 mi awayPublic Libraries in Freeport
Freeport Public Library
100 East Douglas Street, Freeport
Cities Near Freeport
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Freeport?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Freeport FAQ
Is Freeport, Illinois affordable?⌄
Freeport's median rent is $793/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $51,723/year. Median home value is $92,100.
Is Freeport, Illinois safe?⌄
Freeport's violent crime rate was 253 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1125 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Freeport, Illinois?⌄
Freeport has an unemployment rate of 5.0%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Freeport, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Freeport is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $793/month and median household income is $51,723/year. The median home value is $92,100. About 41% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Freeport, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Freeport is 16 minutes, which is shorter 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