Carbondale ariel view (cropped) · Explorecdale / CC BY-SA 3.0SIUC Faner · Bradley Furlow / CC BY-SA 4.0Preserved R Buckminster Fuller and Anne Hewlitt Dome Home · Communityhelper1000 / CC BY-SA 4.0Pulliam Hall (SIU) (cropped) · Veeresh dandur / CC BY-SA 3.0
Carbondale is a small city of 22,039 in Illinois, with a median household income of $27,360
and a 9.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is
13% below the national average.
Strengths:
Carbondale stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Carbondale is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Carbondale 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: 87.2
Carbondale's overall cost of living index is 87.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Carbondale costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.
Metric
Carbondale, IL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$124,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$754
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
25.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$27,360
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Carbondale's violent crime rate is 1004.9 per 100,000 residents
— 164% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
1004.9 /100k
Property Crime
3684.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Carbondale is served primarily by Carbondale ESD 95.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.7:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Carbondale, IL
National Avg
School District
Carbondale ESD 95
—
Elementary Schools
3
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
46.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
94.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Carbondale sees average highs of 41.3°F in January
and 88.1°F in July,
with 49.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 11.4 inches of snow per year.
Carbondale's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Carbondale roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $124,900 and median rent is $754/month.
Carbondale's violent crime rate is 1004.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3684.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Carbondale are operated by Carbondale ESD 95.
The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.7:1. 46.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Carbondale, IL has a population of 22,039, a median household income of $27,360, and an unemployment rate of 9.6%.
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.
Carbondale averages 41.3°F in January and 88.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 49.0 inches
with about 11.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Carbondale, IL is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 62901, 62903, 62902.
The population of Carbondale, Illinois is 22,039 with a median age of 24.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Carbondale: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $124,900, median household income $27,360, crime index 229 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Carbondale side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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