Chillicothe-cinema-2 · ProfDEH at en.wikipedia / Public domainChillicothe railroad station · ProfDEH / CC BY-SA 4.0Chillicothe, Il Post Office mural, "Rail Roading" by Arthur H. Lidov · Art: Arthur H. Lidov Photographer: Buster7 / Public domain
Chillicothe is a small town of 6,130 in Illinois, with a median household income of $59,161
and a 6.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Chillicothe stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Chillicothe is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Chillicothe 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: 88.6
Chillicothe's overall cost of living index is 88.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Chillicothe costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Chillicothe, IL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$129,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$880
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
79.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$59,161
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Chillicothe's violent crime rate is 151.7 per 100,000 residents
— 60% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
151.7 /100k
Property Crime
943.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Chillicothe is served primarily by Il Valley Central USD 321.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.7:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Chillicothe, IL
National Avg
School District
Il Valley Central USD 321
—
Elementary Schools
3
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
3
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
26.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
97.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Chillicothe sees average highs of 33.8°F in January
and 87.0°F in July,
with 36.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 20.0 inches of snow per year.
Chillicothe's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Chillicothe roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $129,200 and median rent is $880/month.
Chillicothe's violent crime rate is 151.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 943.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Chillicothe are operated by Il Valley Central USD 321.
The district has 3 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.7:1. 26.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Chillicothe, IL has a population of 6,130, a median household income of $59,161, and an unemployment rate of 6.8%.
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.
Chillicothe averages 33.8°F in January and 87.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.4 inches
with about 20.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Chillicothe, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 61523.
The population of Chillicothe, Illinois is 6,130 with a median age of 43.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Chillicothe: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $129,200, median household income $59,161, crime index 42 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Chillicothe side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
