What are the schools like in Arcola, IL?

Arcola is served primarily by Arcola CUSD 306. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.1:1.

What is the median household income in Arcola?

The median household income in Arcola, IL is $73,188 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.6%.

What is the weather like in Arcola, IL?

Arcola has an average high temperature of 34.0°F in January and 84.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 40.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 16.9 inches.

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

Q: Is Arcola, IL affordable or expensive?

Arcola's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Arcola is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $118,300 and the median rent is $797 per month.

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

Arcola has a violent crime rate of 347.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 521.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Arcola, IL a Good Place to Live?

Arcola is a small town of 2,726 in Illinois, with a median household income of $73,188 and a 4.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: Arcola stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Arcola is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Arcola 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: 92.2

Arcola's overall cost of living index is 92.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Arcola costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Arcola, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$118,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$797	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	70.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$73,188	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Arcola's violent crime rate is 347.6 per 100,000 residents — 9% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

347.6 /100k

Property Crime

521.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Arcola is served primarily by Arcola CUSD 306. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Arcola, IL	National Avg
School District	Arcola CUSD 306	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	19.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	81.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Arcola sees average highs of 34.0°F in January and 84.9°F in July, with 40.5 inches of annual precipitation and 16.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Arcola, IL
Average High — January	34.0°F
Average High — July	84.9°F
Annual Precipitation	40.5"
Annual Snowfall	16.9"

Demographics

Metric	Arcola, IL	National Avg
Population	2,726	—
Median Age	35.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	14.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	69.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	3.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	22.5%	18.9%
Asian	0.3%	6.3%
Under 18	27.8%	22.2%
65 and over	12.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Humboldt, IL 6 mi Tuscola, IL 8 mi Hindsboro, IL 9 mi Arthur, IL 9 mi Garrett, IL 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Arcola

Arcola, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

61910

Arcola vs Other Cities

Arcola, IL vs Humboldt, IL Arcola, IL vs Tuscola, IL Arcola, IL vs Hindsboro, IL Arcola, IL vs Arthur, IL Arcola, IL vs Garrett, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Arcola, IL affordable or expensive?

Arcola's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Arcola roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $118,300 and median rent is $797/month.

What is the crime rate in Arcola, IL?

Arcola's violent crime rate is 347.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 521.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Arcola?

Public schools in Arcola are operated by Arcola CUSD 306. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1. 19.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Arcola, IL a good place to live?

Arcola, IL has a population of 2,726, a median household income of $73,188, and an unemployment rate of 4.6%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. 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 Arcola?

Arcola averages 34.0°F in January and 84.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.5 inches with about 16.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Arcola?

Arcola, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 61910.

What is the population of Arcola?

The population of Arcola, Illinois is 2,726 with a median age of 35.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Arcola?

Key numbers for living in Arcola: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $118,300, median household income $73,188, crime index 65 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Arcola side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.