Northfield, IL

Full City Profile · Illinois · Lake County County

3.8 /5.0
B+ Good
5,683 Population 1,759/sq mi density
$180,492 Median Income $116,824 per capita
$807,700 Home Value $896,262 Zillow
$2,917 Median Rent 31.2% income on rent
51°F Avg Temperature
18 Violent Crime/100K 767 property/100K
B+
Overall
3.8 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A+
Economy
5.0 / 5.0
$180,492 median income, 2.0% unemployment
A
Affordability
4.2 / 5.0
$807,700 home value, $2,917/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
18 violent crimes/100K
A+
Education
5.0 / 5.0
81.7% bachelor's degree or higher
Northfield experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 51°F (11°C). Winters average 25°F in January while summers reach 75°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 32.3 inches. The area receives 33.6 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.

Temperature

25°F Jan (-4°C) 75°F Jul (24°C)
Annual Average50.8°F
6% below US avg
January Average25°F (-4°C)
July Average75°F (24°C)

Geography

Elevation623 ft (190 m)
Area3.2 sq mi (8.3 km²)
Population Density1,759/sq mi
Coordinates42.1030°N, 87.7774°W
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
CountyLake County County
Nearest AirportChicago O'Hare International (ORD)
11 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 32.3"
15% below US avg
Snowfall 33.6"
Wettest Month (Jun) 3.97"
Driest Month (Feb) 1.28"

Air Quality

AQI Median40.0
RatingGood
Good Days %82.0%
Unhealthy Days5

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0480 ppm

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively High
Risk Score96.0 / 100
Social Vulnerability14.1 / 100
Community Resilience78.1 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Very High
Hurricane Very Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively High
Hail Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind Very High
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively High
Ice Storm Relatively Moderate
Drought Relatively Low
Cold Wave Very High
Landslide Very Low
Coastal Flood Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

8 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.2. Most recent: M2.6 on Mar 15, 2025.

Jun 28, 2004 12 km NW of Dayton, Illinois M4.2 117 km
Feb 10, 2010 2 km NW of Lily Lake, Illinois M3.8 61 km
Sep 2, 1999 8 km W of Amboy, Illinois M3.5 143 km
Nov 4, 2013 1 km SSW of Lyons, Illinois M3.2 34 km
Jul 15, 2024 2 km WNW of Somonauk, Illinois M3.1 93 km
Mar 25, 2015 3 km WNW of Lake in the Hills, Illinois M2.9 49 km
Jun 10, 2013 4 km NNE of Virgil, Illinois M2.6 62 km
Mar 15, 2025 6 km W of Dwight, Illinois M2.6 128 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990-2025)

Tornado History

490 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF5. Total: 105 fatalities, 2,054 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Aug 28, 1990 EF5 67 km 29
Jun 29, 1979 EF4 75 km 0
Jun 13, 1976 EF4 52 km 2
Sep 28, 1972 EF4 21 km 0
Apr 21, 1967 EF4 95 km 24
Apr 21, 1967 EF4 41 km 1
Apr 21, 1967 EF4 48 km 33
Apr 11, 1965 EF4 51 km 6
Jun 20, 2021 EF3 53 km 0
Jan 7, 2008 EF3 92 km 0
Jan 7, 2008 EF3 67 km 0
Mar 27, 1991 EF3 64 km 0
Apr 27, 1984 EF3 77 km 1
Mar 12, 1976 EF3 81 km 0
Mar 12, 1976 EF3 71 km 0
Jun 20, 1974 EF3 96 km 0
Oct 24, 1967 EF3 77 km 0
Nov 12, 1965 EF3 66 km 0
Apr 11, 1965 EF3 97 km 0
Jul 19, 1963 EF3 66 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950-2024)

Tsunami History

1 tsunami recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 3.0 m (10 ft).

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1954 MICHIGAN CITY, IN (LAKE MICHIGAN) Avalanche 3.0 m 7 87 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Wildfire History

12 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (1,741 ac, 2019).

Year Name Acres Distance
2019 UNNAMED 1,741 87 km
2019 UNNAMED 1,664 86 km
2021 NORTHEAST PRAIRIE UNIT 3 978 85 km
2024 NORTHEAST PRAIRIE 3 RX 938 83 km
1986 OGDEN DUNS 863 72 km
2021 UNNAMED 738 83 km
2021 MIDDLE GRANT CREEK 700 87 km
2019 UNNAMED 698 82 km
2024 IBSP SOUTH F1 RX 690 34 km
2021 21-INDU TOLLESTON DUNES EAST 594 72 km
2017 UNNAMED 549 87 km
2017 17 INDU COWLES DUNES 522 76 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 25°F (-4°C) 1.3 in Coldest
February 29°F (-2°C) 1.3 in Driest
March 38°F (4°C) 1.8 in
April 49°F (9°C) 3.3 in
May 60°F (15°C) 3.8 in
June 70°F (21°C) 4.0 in Wettest
July 75°F (24°C) 3.2 in Warmest
August 73°F (23°C) 3.7 in
September 66°F (19°C) 3.0 in
October 54°F (12°C) 3.1 in
November 41°F (5°C) 2.2 in
December 30°F (-1°C) 1.6 in

Northfield has a seasonal temperature swing of 50°F / from 25°F in January to 75°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 32.3 inches, with June being the wettest month (4.0") and February the driest (1.3").

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