What are the schools like in Braidwood, IL?

Braidwood is served primarily by Reed Custer CUSD 255U. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.1:1.

What is the median household income in Braidwood?

The median household income in Braidwood, IL is $76,683 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.5%.

What is the weather like in Braidwood, IL?

Braidwood has an average high temperature of 31.6°F in January and 84.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 38.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 18.4 inches.

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

Q: Is Braidwood, IL affordable or expensive?

Braidwood's cost of living index is 103, where 100 represents the national average. This means Braidwood is 3% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $187,200 and the median rent is $1,148 per month.

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

Braidwood has a violent crime rate of 64.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 389.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Braidwood, IL a Good Place to Live?

Braidwood is a small town of 6,160 in Illinois, with a median household income of $76,683 and a 3.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.

Strengths: Braidwood stands out for below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-).

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

All Braidwood 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: 102.6

Braidwood's overall cost of living index is 102.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Braidwood costs roughly 3% more than the average American city.

Metric	Braidwood, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$187,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,148	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	80.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$76,683	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Braidwood's violent crime rate is 64.9 per 100,000 residents — 83% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

64.9 /100k

Property Crime

389.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Braidwood is served primarily by Reed Custer CUSD 255U. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Braidwood, IL	National Avg
School District	Reed Custer CUSD 255U	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	17.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Braidwood sees average highs of 31.6°F in January and 84.9°F in July, with 38.5 inches of annual precipitation and 18.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Braidwood, IL
Average High — January	31.6°F
Average High — July	84.9°F
Annual Precipitation	38.5"
Annual Snowfall	18.4"

Demographics

Metric	Braidwood, IL	National Avg
Population	6,160	—
Median Age	44.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	28.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	94.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	21.0%	22.2%
65 and over	15.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Diamond, IL 2 mi Godley, IL 2 mi Coal City, IL 3 mi Braceville, IL 4 mi Lakewood Shores, IL 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Braidwood

Braidwood, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

60408

Braidwood vs Other Cities

Braidwood, IL vs Diamond, IL Braidwood, IL vs Godley, IL Braidwood, IL vs Coal City, IL Braidwood, IL vs Braceville, IL Braidwood, IL vs Lakewood Shores, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Braidwood, IL affordable or expensive?

Braidwood's cost of living index is 103, where 100 is the national average. That puts Braidwood roughly 3% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $187,200 and median rent is $1,148/month.

What is the crime rate in Braidwood, IL?

Braidwood's violent crime rate is 64.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 389.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Braidwood?

Public schools in Braidwood are operated by Reed Custer CUSD 255U. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1. 17.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Braidwood, IL a good place to live?

Braidwood, IL has a population of 6,160, a median household income of $76,683, and an unemployment rate of 3.5%. 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 Braidwood?

Braidwood averages 31.6°F in January and 84.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.5 inches with about 18.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Braidwood?

Braidwood, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 60408.

What is the population of Braidwood?

The population of Braidwood, Illinois is 6,160 with a median age of 44.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Braidwood?

Key numbers for living in Braidwood: cost of living index 103 (100 = US average), median home $187,200, median household income $76,683, crime index 18 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Braidwood side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.