What are the schools like in Colchester, IL?

Colchester is served primarily by West Prairie CUSD 103. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 10.6:1.

What is the median household income in Colchester?

The median household income in Colchester, IL is $56,875 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.2%.

What is the weather like in Colchester, IL?

Colchester has an average high temperature of 31.8°F in January and 84.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 39.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 10.5 inches.

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

Q: Is Colchester, IL affordable or expensive?

Colchester's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Colchester is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $78,900 and the median rent is $769 per month.

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

Crime rate data for Colchester is not currently available from the FBI's reported data.

Is Colchester, IL a Good Place to Live?

Colchester is a small town of 1,120 in Illinois, with a median household income of $56,875 and a 4.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Colchester is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Colchester 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: 89.9

Colchester's overall cost of living index is 89.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Colchester costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Colchester, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$78,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$769	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	73.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$56,875	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Crime data for Colchester is not currently available from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program. Not all local agencies report to the UCR each year.

Schools & Education

Colchester is served primarily by West Prairie CUSD 103. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Colchester, IL	National Avg
School District	West Prairie CUSD 103	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	10.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	19.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Colchester sees average highs of 31.8°F in January and 84.6°F in July, with 39.7 inches of annual precipitation and 10.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Colchester, IL
Average High — January	31.8°F
Average High — July	84.6°F
Annual Precipitation	39.7"
Annual Snowfall	10.5"

Demographics

Metric	Colchester, IL	National Avg
Population	1,120	—
Median Age	41.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	16.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	98.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	18.4%	22.2%
65 and over	20.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Tennessee, IL 3 mi Georgetown, IL 5 mi Macomb, IL 7 mi Blandinsville, IL 10 mi Sciota, IL 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Colchester

Colchester, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

62326

Colchester vs Other Cities

Colchester, IL vs Tennessee, IL Colchester, IL vs Georgetown, IL Colchester, IL vs Macomb, IL Colchester, IL vs Blandinsville, IL Colchester, IL vs Sciota, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Colchester, IL affordable or expensive?

Colchester's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Colchester roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $78,900 and median rent is $769/month.

What is the crime rate in Colchester, IL?

Crime data for Colchester is not available in the current FBI UCR reporting year. Not all jurisdictions submit data annually.

What are the schools like in Colchester?

Public schools in Colchester are operated by West Prairie CUSD 103. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.6:1. 19.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Colchester, IL a good place to live?

Colchester, IL has a population of 1,120, a median household income of $56,875, and an unemployment rate of 4.2%. 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 Colchester?

Colchester averages 31.8°F in January and 84.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.7 inches with about 10.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Colchester?

Colchester, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 62326.

What is the population of Colchester?

The population of Colchester, Illinois is 1,120 with a median age of 41.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Colchester?

Key numbers for living in Colchester: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $78,900, median household income $56,875, schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Colchester side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.