Polo, IL

Full City Profile · Illinois · Lee County County

2.8 /5.0
C+ Fair
2,495 Population 1,721/sq mi density
$52,976 Median Income $29,178 per capita
$108,500 Home Value $164,691 Zillow
$777 Median Rent 21.4% income on rent
49°F Avg Temperature
45 Violent Crime/100K 89 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.8 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B
Economy
3.1 / 5.0
$52,976 median income, 4.7% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$108,500 home value, $777/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
45 violent crimes/100K
C
Education
2.3 / 5.0
16.2% bachelor's degree or higher

Polo, IL

At a Glance

Median Income
$52,976
30% below
$29,178 per capita
Home Value
$108,500
62% below
Zillow: $164,691
Median Rent
$777/mo
33% below
21.4% of income on rent
Violent Crime
45/100K
88% below
89/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
16.2%
52% below
92.8% high school+
Unemployment
4.7%
31% above
16.0% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
42.1%
31% above
16.2% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
49°F

How Polo Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Polo's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
70%
Home Value
38%
Rent
67%
Poverty
129%
Bachelor's
48%
Unemployment
131%
Crime
12%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Polo a Good Place to Live?

C+
2.8 / 5.0 - Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Polo residents earn a median household income of $52,976 , which is 30% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $29,178. The unemployment rate stands at 4.7% (31% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 16.0% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 692 business establishments, including 79 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Polo is $108,500 , 62% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $164,691. Median rent is $777/month, with 21.4% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 100.0 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1953.

Safety & Crime

Polo reports 45 violent crimes per 100,000 residents , which is 88% below the national average of 380/100K. Property crime is 89/100K.

Education

16.2% of adults in Polo hold a bachelor's degree or higher (52% below the national average). 92.8% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.1/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Polo has an average annual temperature of 49°F (10°C). Winters average 22°F in January while summers reach 73°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 40.0 inches.

Data Overview

People

Population2,495
Median Age32.2 yrs
Density1,721/mi²
Male / Female49% / 52%
Foreign Born2.2%
Veterans11.4%

Economy

B
Median Income$52,976
Per Capita$29,178
Unemployment4.7%
Poverty16.0%
County GDP$2,173M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,124

Housing

A+
Home Value$108,500
Rent$777
Ownership62.9%
Zillow$164,691
Housing Units1,133
Rent Burden21.4%

Crime

F
Violent45/100K
Property89/100K

Health

Obesity42.1%
Diabetes10.1%
Smoking16.2%
Heart Disease5.7%
Premature Death7,354/100K

Climate

Avg Temp49°F
Rain40.0 in/yr
Elevation848 ft

Education

C
Bachelor's+16.2%
High School+92.8%
Graduate+4.4%
School Score5.1/10

Community

2024 VoteR 60% / D 38%
Commute29 min
Broadband90.0%
Internet Speed51 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries5

Did You Know?

The median home in Polo was built in 1953.
The nearest airport is Chicago/Rockford International (29 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.438 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
12.3% of the population has a disability.
The county recorded 7 fatal vehicle crashes.