Very AffordableVery SafeCarrier Mills-Stonefort CUSD 2
Ufiles1004 · Ruhe1986 at English Wikipedia / Public domainCmillsdntwn1905 · Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domainOak Street at the railroad tracks, Carrier Mills, Illinois, 8b17311 · Arthur Rothstein / Public domainCarrier Mills High School in 1905 · Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domain
Carrier Mills is a small town of 1,759 in Illinois, with a median household income of $49,922
and a 8.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is
14% below the national average.
Strengths:
Carrier Mills stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Carrier Mills is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Carrier Mills 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: 86.3
Carrier Mills's overall cost of living index is 86.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Carrier Mills costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.
Metric
Carrier Mills, IL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$56,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$604
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
76.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$49,922
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Carrier Mills's violent crime rate is 126.2 per 100,000 residents
— 67% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
126.2 /100k
Property Crime
1388.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Carrier Mills is served primarily by Carrier Mills-Stonefort CUSD 2.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Carrier Mills, IL
National Avg
School District
Carrier Mills-Stonefort CUSD 2
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
9.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
89.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Carrier Mills sees average highs of 42.9°F in January
and 89.1°F in July,
with 47.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 7.2 inches of snow per year.
Carrier Mills's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Carrier Mills roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $56,200 and median rent is $604/month.
Carrier Mills's violent crime rate is 126.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1388.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Carrier Mills are operated by Carrier Mills-Stonefort CUSD 2.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.5:1. 9.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Carrier Mills, IL has a population of 1,759, a median household income of $49,922, and an unemployment rate of 8.4%.
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.
Carrier Mills averages 42.9°F in January and 89.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.6 inches
with about 7.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Carrier Mills, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 62917.
The population of Carrier Mills, Illinois is 1,759 with a median age of 41.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Carrier Mills: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $56,200, median household income $49,922, crime index 46 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Carrier Mills side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
