What are the schools like in De Soto, IL?

De Soto is served primarily by DeSoto Cons SD 86. 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 De Soto?

The median household income in De Soto, IL is $53,188 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 7.8%.

What is the weather like in De Soto, IL?

De Soto has an average high temperature of 41.7°F in January and 88.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 45.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 11.4 inches.

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

Q: Is De Soto, IL affordable or expensive?

De Soto's cost of living index is 87, where 100 represents the national average. This means De Soto is 13% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $86,300 and the median rent is $776 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in De Soto, IL?

De Soto has a violent crime rate of 421.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1778.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is De Soto, IL a Good Place to Live?

De Soto is a small town of 1,684 in Illinois, with a median household income of $53,188 and a 7.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is 13% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether De Soto is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All De Soto 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: 87.2

De Soto's overall cost of living index is 87.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in De Soto costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.

Metric	De Soto, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$86,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$776	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	43.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$53,188	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

De Soto's violent crime rate is 421.1 per 100,000 residents — 11% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

421.1 /100k

Property Crime

1778.0 /100k

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

Schools & Education

De Soto is served primarily by DeSoto Cons SD 86. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	De Soto, IL	National Avg
School District	DeSoto Cons SD 86	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	10.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	20.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

De Soto sees average highs of 41.7°F in January and 88.4°F in July, with 45.8 inches of annual precipitation and 11.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	De Soto, IL
Average High — January	41.7°F
Average High — July	88.4°F
Annual Precipitation	45.8"
Annual Snowfall	11.4"

Demographics

Metric	De Soto, IL	National Avg
Population	1,684	—
Median Age	35.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	7.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	91.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.2%	18.9%
Asian	0.5%	6.3%
Under 18	27.0%	22.2%
65 and over	13.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Hurst, IL 5 mi Bush, IL 6 mi Blairsville, IL 6 mi Harrison, IL 6 mi Cambria, IL 6 mi

ZIP Codes in De Soto

De Soto, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

62924

De Soto vs Other Cities

De Soto, IL vs Hurst, IL De Soto, IL vs Bush, IL De Soto, IL vs Blairsville, IL De Soto, IL vs Harrison, IL De Soto, IL vs Cambria, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is De Soto, IL affordable or expensive?

De Soto's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average. That makes De Soto roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $86,300 and median rent is $776/month.

What is the crime rate in De Soto, IL?

De Soto's violent crime rate is 421.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1778.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in De Soto?

Public schools in De Soto are operated by DeSoto Cons SD 86. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.4:1. 20.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is De Soto, IL a good place to live?

De Soto, IL has a population of 1,684, a median household income of $53,188, and an unemployment rate of 7.8%. 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.

What is the weather like in De Soto?

De Soto averages 41.7°F in January and 88.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.8 inches with about 11.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in De Soto?

De Soto, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 62924.

What is the population of De Soto?

The population of De Soto, Illinois is 1,684 with a median age of 35.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in De Soto?

Key numbers for living in De Soto: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $86,300, median household income $53,188, crime index 100 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare De Soto side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.