Carterville is a small town of 5,836 in Illinois, with a median household income of $59,174
and a 2.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is
13% below the national average.
Strengths:
Carterville 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:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Carterville is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Carterville 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
Carterville's overall cost of living index is 87.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Carterville costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.
Metric
Carterville, IL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$177,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$819
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
70.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$59,174
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Carterville's violent crime rate is 189.2 per 100,000 residents
— 50% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
189.2 /100k
Property Crime
1204.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Carterville is served primarily by Carterville CUSD 5.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Carterville, IL
National Avg
School District
Carterville CUSD 5
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
49.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
97.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Carterville sees average highs of 41.3°F in January
and 88.1°F in July,
with 47.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 11.4 inches of snow per year.
Carterville's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Carterville roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $177,900 and median rent is $819/month.
Carterville's violent crime rate is 189.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1204.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Carterville are operated by Carterville CUSD 5.
The district has 1 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.0:1. 49.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Carterville, IL has a population of 5,836, a median household income of $59,174, and an unemployment rate of 2.7%.
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.
Carterville averages 41.3°F in January and 88.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.8 inches
with about 11.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Carterville, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 62918.
The population of Carterville, Illinois is 5,836 with a median age of 38.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Carterville: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $177,900, median household income $59,174, crime index 53 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Carterville side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.