Is Crete, IL a Good Place to Live?
Crete is a small town of 8,425 in Illinois, with a median household income of $91,549 and a 8.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.
Strengths: Crete stands out for below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+).
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Crete is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Crete 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: 102.6Crete's overall cost of living index is 102.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Crete costs roughly 3% more than the average American city.
| Metric | Crete, IL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $197,600 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,305 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 90.4% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $91,549 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Very SafeCrete's violent crime rate is 169.1 per 100,000 residents — 55% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Crete is served primarily by Crete Monee CUSD 201U. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Crete, IL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Crete Monee CUSD 201U | — |
| Elementary Schools | 5 | — |
| Middle Schools | 1 | — |
| High Schools | 1 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 13.7:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.2% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 93.0% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Crete sees average highs of 31.1°F in January and 83.9°F in July, with 40.3 inches of annual precipitation and 28.2 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | Crete, IL |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 31.1°F |
| Average High — July | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" |
Demographics
| Metric | Crete, IL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,425 | — |
| Median Age | 49.2 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 33.5 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 54.5% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 35.3% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 5.4% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 1.0% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 25.1% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Crete
Crete, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: