Dixon is a city in Lee County, Illinois, United States, and its county seat. The population was 15,274 as of the 2020 census. The city is named after founder John Dixon, who operated a rope ferry service across the Rock River, which runs through the city. The Illinois General Assembly designated Dixon as "Petunia Capital of Illinois" in 1999 and "The Catfish Capital of Illinois" in 2009. Dixon was the boyhood home of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan. The city is also the site of the Lincoln Monument State Memorial, marking the spot where Abraham Lincoln joined the Illinois militia at Fort Dixon in 1832 during the Black Hawk War. The memorial is located on the west side of Dixon's main no…

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Dixon ranks

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#186Most affordable in IL #211Lowest property tax in IL #212Shortest commute in IL All IL rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code61021

Area code815

Living in Dixon

Housing in Dixon

$181K▲ 6.5% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Dixon home is worth about $181,000, up 6.5% in a year, 39% below the Illinois typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Work & commute in Dixon

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About one in 4 of Dixon’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Dixon (28%), Sterling (7%) and Chicago (5%). Half commute less than 14 miles.

Dixon

28%

Sterling

Chicago

Rockford

26%Work in townlive and work in Dixon 14 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 6,628Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Dixon →

Health in Dixon

C⁺

Health Grade C+

Healthier than 37% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 52% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Illinois

9worse than IL

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 23 are too close to call.

Conditions 7▼ 5 close Habits 1▼ 3 close Care all close Mind 1▼ 4 close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

8.6%More adults with COPDIL 6.3% · worse 16.1%More smokersIL 12.1% · worse 13.4%More older adults who have lost all their teethIL 10.3% · worse

Care nearby

Osf Saint Katharine Medical CenterDixon · 1.9 mi · ER

Whiteside Chd - Rock FallsRock Falls · 14.1 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · ZIP code 61021 · CMS · HRSAHealth in Dixon →

Natural hazards in Dixon

Moderate

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 58% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves🌪️ Tornadoes

13Does Dixon flood?paid flood claims since 1979 1Disasters that paid out herefederal disaster sent FEMA money to Dixon MapDixon vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Dixon →

Climate in Dixon

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Dixon has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 13°, and about 31 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

33° / 17°Winter

60° / 38°Spring

82° / 61°Summer

62° / 41°Fall

How much snow does Dixon get?About 31 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 19, with the last in spring around Apr 21.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.2° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Dixon →

Schools in Dixon

All Dixon schools →

C⁻

School Grade C-

The public schools Dixon’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 83% of Illinois’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

See how Dixon’s schools compare in IL →

DistrictDixon USD 170Schools11

Washington Elem SchoolElementary · Grades PK–1 · 424 students Jefferson Elem School CElementary · Grades 2–3 · 344 students Madison School C+Elementary · Grades 4–5 · 323 students St. Anne SchoolElementary · Grades PK–5 · 70 students Reagan Middle School C+Middle · Grades 6–8 · 585 students Dixon High School BHigh · Grades 9–12 · 760 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within IL. Ratings are from neighbors.