What are the schools like in Centralia, IL?

Centralia is served primarily by Centralia SD 135. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.5:1.

What is the median household income in Centralia?

The median household income in Centralia, IL is $46,468 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 12.4%.

What is the weather like in Centralia, IL?

Centralia has an average high temperature of 38.8°F in January and 87.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 45.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 6.5 inches.

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

Q: Is Centralia, IL affordable or expensive?

Centralia's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Centralia is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $84,700 and the median rent is $718 per month.

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

Centralia has a violent crime rate of 663.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2579.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Centralia, IL a Good Place to Live?

Centralia is a small city of 12,096 in Illinois, with a median household income of $46,468 and a 12.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Centralia is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Centralia 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: 89.7

Centralia's overall cost of living index is 89.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Centralia costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Centralia, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$84,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$718	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	65.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$46,468	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Centralia's violent crime rate is 663.9 per 100,000 residents — 75% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

663.9 /100k

Property Crime

2579.2 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Centralia is served primarily by Centralia SD 135. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Centralia, IL	National Avg
School District	Centralia SD 135	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	18.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Centralia sees average highs of 38.8°F in January and 87.5°F in July, with 45.3 inches of annual precipitation and 6.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Centralia, IL
Average High — January	38.8°F
Average High — July	87.5°F
Annual Precipitation	45.3"
Annual Snowfall	6.5"

Demographics

Metric	Centralia, IL	National Avg
Population	12,096	—
Median Age	40.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	12.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	17.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	81.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	10.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.0%	18.9%
Asian	2.2%	6.3%
Under 18	23.7%	22.2%
65 and over	22.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Central City, IL 2 mi Wamac, IL 3 mi Junction City, IL 4 mi Walnut Hill, IL 5 mi Irvington, IL 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Centralia

Centralia, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

62801

Centralia vs Other Cities

Centralia, IL vs Central City, IL Centralia, IL vs Wamac, IL Centralia, IL vs Junction City, IL Centralia, IL vs Walnut Hill, IL Centralia, IL vs Irvington, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Centralia, IL affordable or expensive?

Centralia's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Centralia roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $84,700 and median rent is $718/month.

What is the crime rate in Centralia, IL?

Centralia's violent crime rate is 663.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2579.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Centralia?

Public schools in Centralia are operated by Centralia SD 135. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1. 18.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Centralia, IL a good place to live?

Centralia, IL has a population of 12,096, a median household income of $46,468, and an unemployment rate of 12.4%. 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.

What is the weather like in Centralia?

Centralia averages 38.8°F in January and 87.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.3 inches with about 6.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Centralia?

Centralia, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 62801.

What is the population of Centralia?

The population of Centralia, Illinois is 12,096 with a median age of 40.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Centralia?

Key numbers for living in Centralia: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $84,700, median household income $46,468, crime index 154 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Centralia side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.