What are the schools like in Alton, IL?

Alton is served primarily by Alton CUSD 11. The district operates 7 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.0:1.

What is the median household income in Alton?

The median household income in Alton, IL is $49,439 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.6%.

What is the weather like in Alton, IL?

Alton has an average high temperature of 39.0°F in January and 87.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 41.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 10.8 inches.

Alton, IL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Alton, IL affordable or expensive?

Alton's cost of living index is 96, where 100 represents the national average. This means Alton is 4% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $93,500 and the median rent is $908 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Alton, IL?

Alton has a violent crime rate of 963.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2668.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Alton, IL a Good Place to Live?

Alton is a small city of 25,642 in Illinois, with a median household income of $49,439 and a 6.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.

Strengths: Alton stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Alton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Alton city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 96.3

Alton's overall cost of living index is 96.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Alton costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.

Metric	Alton, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$93,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$908	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	57.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$49,439	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Alton's violent crime rate is 963.4 per 100,000 residents — 154% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

963.4 /100k

Property Crime

2668.4 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Alton is served primarily by Alton CUSD 11. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Alton, IL	National Avg
School District	Alton CUSD 11	—
Elementary Schools	7	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	20.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Alton sees average highs of 39.0°F in January and 87.3°F in July, with 41.9 inches of annual precipitation and 10.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Alton, IL
Average High — January	39.0°F
Average High — July	87.3°F
Annual Precipitation	41.9"
Annual Snowfall	10.8"

Demographics

Metric	Alton, IL	National Avg
Population	25,642	—
Median Age	38.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	66.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	24.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.5%	18.9%
Asian	0.9%	6.3%
Under 18	23.5%	22.2%
65 and over	17.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

East Alton, IL 3 mi West Alton, MO 4 mi Rosewood Heights, IL 4 mi Wood River, IL 5 mi Godfrey, IL 5 mi

ZIP Codes in Alton

Alton, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

62002

Alton vs Other Cities

Alton, IL vs East Alton, IL Alton, IL vs West Alton, MO Alton, IL vs Rosewood Heights, IL Alton, IL vs Wood River, IL Alton, IL vs Godfrey, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Alton, IL affordable or expensive?

Alton's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average. That makes Alton roughly 4% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $93,500 and median rent is $908/month.

What is the crime rate in Alton, IL?

Alton's violent crime rate is 963.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2668.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Alton?

Public schools in Alton are operated by Alton CUSD 11. The district has 7 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.0:1. 20.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Alton, IL a good place to live?

Alton, IL has a population of 25,642, a median household income of $49,439, and an unemployment rate of 6.6%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Alton?

Alton averages 39.0°F in January and 87.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.9 inches with about 10.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Alton?

Alton, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 62002.

What is the population of Alton?

The population of Alton, Illinois is 25,642 with a median age of 38.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Alton?

Key numbers for living in Alton: cost of living index 96 (100 = US average), median home $93,500, median household income $49,439, crime index 203 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Alton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.