What are the schools like in Elwood, IL?

Elwood is served primarily by Elwood CCSD 203. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 10.1:1.

What is the median household income in Elwood?

The median household income in Elwood, IL is $78,214 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.2%.

What is the weather like in Elwood, IL?

Elwood has an average high temperature of 31.1°F in January and 83.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 38.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 16.9 inches.

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

Q: Is Elwood, IL affordable or expensive?

Elwood's cost of living index is 103, where 100 represents the national average. This means Elwood is 3% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $206,600 and the median rent is $999 per month.

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

Elwood has a violent crime rate of 136.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 775.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Elwood, IL a Good Place to Live?

Elwood is a small town of 2,315 in Illinois, with a median household income of $78,214 and a 3.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.

Strengths: Elwood stands out for below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+).

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

All Elwood 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: 102.6

Elwood's overall cost of living index is 102.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Elwood costs roughly 3% more than the average American city.

Metric	Elwood, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$206,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$999	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	83.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$78,214	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Elwood's violent crime rate is 136.9 per 100,000 residents — 64% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

136.9 /100k

Property Crime

775.9 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Elwood is served primarily by Elwood CCSD 203. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Elwood, IL	National Avg
School District	Elwood CCSD 203	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	10.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	16.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Elwood sees average highs of 31.1°F in January and 83.6°F in July, with 38.0 inches of annual precipitation and 16.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Elwood, IL
Average High — January	31.1°F
Average High — July	83.6°F
Annual Precipitation	38.0"
Annual Snowfall	16.9"

Demographics

Metric	Elwood, IL	National Avg
Population	2,315	—
Median Age	40.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	29.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	88.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	6.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.9%	18.9%
Asian	0.6%	6.3%
Under 18	16.4%	22.2%
65 and over	14.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Preston Heights, IL 6 mi Rockdale, IL 6 mi Manhattan, IL 7 mi Joliet, IL 7 mi Wilmington, IL 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Elwood

Elwood, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

60421

Elwood vs Other Cities

Elwood, IL vs Preston Heights, IL Elwood, IL vs Rockdale, IL Elwood, IL vs Manhattan, IL Elwood, IL vs Joliet, IL Elwood, IL vs Wilmington, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Elwood, IL affordable or expensive?

Elwood's cost of living index is 103, where 100 is the national average. That puts Elwood roughly 3% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $206,600 and median rent is $999/month.

What is the crime rate in Elwood, IL?

Elwood's violent crime rate is 136.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 775.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Elwood?

Public schools in Elwood are operated by Elwood CCSD 203. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.1:1. 16.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Elwood, IL a good place to live?

Elwood, IL has a population of 2,315, a median household income of $78,214, and an unemployment rate of 3.2%. 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 Elwood?

Elwood averages 31.1°F in January and 83.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.0 inches with about 16.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Elwood?

Elwood, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 60421.

What is the population of Elwood?

The population of Elwood, Illinois is 2,315 with a median age of 40.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Elwood?

Key numbers for living in Elwood: cost of living index 103 (100 = US average), median home $206,600, median household income $78,214, crime index 36 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Elwood side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.