What are the schools like in Downs, IL?

Downs is served primarily by Tri Valley CUSD 3. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.4:1.

What is the median household income in Downs?

The median household income in Downs, IL is $104,890 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.5%.

What is the weather like in Downs, IL?

Downs has an average high temperature of 33.4°F in January and 86.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 39.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 6.5 inches.

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

Q: Is Downs, IL affordable or expensive?

Downs's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Downs is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $236,700 and the median rent is $1,125 per month.

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

Downs has a violent crime rate of 104.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 500.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Downs, IL a Good Place to Live?

Downs is a small town of 1,530 in Illinois, with a median household income of $104,890 and a 0.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: Downs stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

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

All Downs 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: 92.0

Downs's overall cost of living index is 92.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Downs costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Downs, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$236,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,125	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	85.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$104,890	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Downs's violent crime rate is 104.4 per 100,000 residents — 73% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

104.4 /100k

Property Crime

500.8 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Downs is served primarily by Tri Valley CUSD 3. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Downs, IL	National Avg
School District	Tri Valley CUSD 3	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	50.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	97.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Downs sees average highs of 33.4°F in January and 86.0°F in July, with 39.9 inches of annual precipitation and 6.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Downs, IL
Average High — January	33.4°F
Average High — July	86.0°F
Annual Precipitation	39.9"
Annual Snowfall	6.5"

Demographics

Metric	Downs, IL	National Avg
Population	1,530	—
Median Age	33.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	92.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.8%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	35.9%	22.2%
65 and over	11.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Bloomington, IL 7 mi Le Roy, IL 8 mi Heyworth, IL 8 mi Shirley, IL 9 mi Ellsworth, IL 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Downs

Downs, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

61736

Downs vs Other Cities

Downs, IL vs Bloomington, IL Downs, IL vs Le Roy, IL Downs, IL vs Heyworth, IL Downs, IL vs Shirley, IL Downs, IL vs Ellsworth, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Downs, IL affordable or expensive?

Downs's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Downs roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $236,700 and median rent is $1,125/month.

What is the crime rate in Downs, IL?

Downs's violent crime rate is 104.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 500.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Downs?

Public schools in Downs are operated by Tri Valley CUSD 3. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1. 50.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Downs, IL a good place to live?

Downs, IL has a population of 1,530, a median household income of $104,890, and an unemployment rate of 0.5%. 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 Downs?

Downs averages 33.4°F in January and 86.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.9 inches with about 6.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Downs?

Downs, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 61736.

What is the population of Downs?

The population of Downs, Illinois is 1,530 with a median age of 33.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Downs?

Key numbers for living in Downs: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $236,700, median household income $104,890, crime index 26 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Downs side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.