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Salem Lakes, WI

Full City Profile · Wisconsin · McHenry County County

3.5 /5.0
B+ Good
14,521 Population 478/sq mi density
$94,554 Median Income $46,879 per capita
$281,500 Home Value $307,938 Zillow
$1,132 Median Rent 23.8% income on rent
47°F Avg Temperature 260 sunny days/yr
49 Violent Crime/100K 1,195 property/100K
B+
Overall
3.5 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A+
Economy
4.7 / 5.0
$94,554 median income, 3.2% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$281,500 home value, $1,132/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
49 violent crimes/100K
B
Education
3.2 / 5.0
27.8% bachelor's degree or higher
Salem Lakes experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 47°F (8°C). Winters average 21°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. The area gets 260 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 37.5 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 38.

Temperature

21°F Jan (-6°C) 72°F Jul (22°C)
Annual Average47.4°F
12% below US avg
January Average21°F (-6°C)
July Average72°F (22°C)
Sunny Days260 days/yr

Geography

Elevation759 ft (231 m)
Area12.5 sq mi (32.4 km²)
Population Density478/sq mi
Coordinates42.5365°N, 88.1332°W
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
CountyMcHenry County County
Nearest AirportKenosha Regional (ENW)
11 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 37.5"
1% below US avg
Wettest Month (Jul) 4.02"
Driest Month (Feb) 1.26"

Air Quality

AQI Median38.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0484 ppm
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)9.1 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score90.8 / 100
Social Vulnerability10.6 / 100
Community Resilience84.0 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

Earthquake History

7 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.2. Most recent: M3.1 on Jul 15, 2024.

Jun 28, 2004 12 km NW of Dayton, Illinois M4.2 135 km
Feb 10, 2010 2 km NW of Lily Lake, Illinois M3.8 70 km
Sep 2, 1999 8 km W of Amboy, Illinois M3.5 140 km
Nov 4, 2013 1 km SSW of Lyons, Illinois M3.2 86 km
Jul 15, 2024 2 km WNW of Somonauk, Illinois M3.1 110 km
Mar 25, 2015 3 km WNW of Lake in the Hills, Illinois M2.9 43 km
Jun 10, 2013 4 km NNE of Virgil, Illinois M2.6 68 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990-2025)

Tornado History

456 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF5. Total: 107 fatalities, 2,219 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Aug 28, 1990 EF5 97 km 29
Apr 27, 1984 EF4 53 km 1
Apr 4, 1981 EF4 100 km 3
Jun 13, 1976 EF4 97 km 2
Sep 28, 1972 EF4 36 km 0
Apr 21, 1967 EF4 100 km 33
Apr 21, 1967 EF4 74 km 24
Apr 21, 1967 EF4 44 km 1
Apr 11, 1965 EF4 41 km 6
Aug 22, 1964 EF4 95 km 0
Jun 20, 2021 EF3 88 km 0
Jan 7, 2008 EF3 16 km 0
Jan 7, 2008 EF3 59 km 0
Jun 5, 1980 EF3 84 km 0
Jul 19, 1963 EF3 11 km 0
Jun 22, 2024 EF2 81 km 0
Nov 22, 2010 EF2 72 km 0
Jul 22, 2010 EF2 37 km 0
Jun 21, 2010 EF2 48 km 0
Jun 25, 1998 EF2 89 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 7 139 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Wildfire History

2 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: IBSP SOUTH F1 RX (690 ac, 2024).

Year Name Acres Distance
2024 IBSP SOUTH F1 RX 690 30 km
2024 RX-HWY Y - SOUTH 553 69 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 21°F (-6°C) 1.6 in Coldest
February 24°F (-5°C) 1.3 in Driest
March 34°F (1°C) 2.4 in
April 46°F (8°C) 3.6 in
May 57°F (14°C) 3.2 in
June 66°F (19°C) 3.9 in
July 72°F (22°C) 4.0 in Warmest, Wettest
August 69°F (21°C) 4.0 in
September 62°F (17°C) 3.8 in
October 51°F (10°C) 2.4 in
November 38°F (3°C) 2.6 in
December 25°F (-4°C) 2.1 in

Salem Lakes has a seasonal temperature swing of 51°F / from 21°F in January to 72°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 35.0 inches, with July being the wettest month (4.0") and February the driest (1.3").

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