What are the schools like in Cornell, IL?

Cornell is served primarily by Cornell CCSD 426. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 10.4:1.

What is the median household income in Cornell?

The median household income in Cornell, IL is $62,750 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.4%.

What is the weather like in Cornell, IL?

Cornell has an average high temperature of 31.9°F in January and 87.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 39.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 26.4 inches.

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

Q: Is Cornell, IL affordable or expensive?

Cornell's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Cornell is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $83,400 and the median rent is $950 per month.

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

Cornell has a violent crime rate of 87.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 507.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Cornell, IL a Good Place to Live?

Cornell is a small town of 439 in Illinois, with a median household income of $62,750 and a 1.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: Cornell 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 Cornell is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Cornell 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: 91.9

Cornell's overall cost of living index is 91.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Cornell costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Cornell, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$83,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$950	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	80.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$62,750	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Cornell's violent crime rate is 87.0 per 100,000 residents — 77% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

87.0 /100k

Property Crime

507.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Cornell is served primarily by Cornell CCSD 426. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Cornell, IL	National Avg
School District	Cornell CCSD 426	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	10.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	13.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Cornell sees average highs of 31.9°F in January and 87.5°F in July, with 39.4 inches of annual precipitation and 26.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Cornell, IL
Average High — January	31.9°F
Average High — July	87.5°F
Annual Precipitation	39.4"
Annual Snowfall	26.4"

Demographics

Metric	Cornell, IL	National Avg
Population	439	—
Median Age	33.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	25.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	94.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	26.0%	22.2%
65 and over	13.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Pontiac, IL 8 mi Long Point, IL 9 mi Flanagan, IL 10 mi Streator, IL 11 mi Odell, IL 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Cornell

Cornell, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

61319

Cornell vs Other Cities

Cornell, IL vs Pontiac, IL Cornell, IL vs Long Point, IL Cornell, IL vs Flanagan, IL Cornell, IL vs Streator, IL Cornell, IL vs Odell, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cornell, IL affordable or expensive?

Cornell's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Cornell roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $83,400 and median rent is $950/month.

What is the crime rate in Cornell, IL?

Cornell's violent crime rate is 87.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 507.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Cornell?

Public schools in Cornell are operated by Cornell CCSD 426. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.4:1. 13.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Cornell, IL a good place to live?

Cornell, IL has a population of 439, a median household income of $62,750, and an unemployment rate of 1.4%. 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 Cornell?

Cornell averages 31.9°F in January and 87.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.4 inches with about 26.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Cornell?

Cornell, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 61319.

What is the population of Cornell?

The population of Cornell, Illinois is 439 with a median age of 33.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Cornell?

Key numbers for living in Cornell: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $83,400, median household income $62,750, crime index 23 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Cornell side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.