Image Downtown Fulton · Boscophotos / CC BY-SA 3.0Clinton Iowa and Fulton Illinois · NHRHS2010 / CC BY-SA 4.0Image Martin House · Boscophotos / CC BY-SA 3.0Mississippi River Lock and Dam number 13 · US Army Corps of Engineers, photographer unknown / Public domain
Fulton is a small town of 3,519 in Illinois, with a median household income of $47,292
and a 3.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Fulton stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Fulton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Fulton 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: 93.2
Fulton's overall cost of living index is 93.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Fulton costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Fulton, IL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$117,100
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$910
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
71.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$47,292
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Fulton's violent crime rate is 113.0 per 100,000 residents
— 70% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
113.0 /100k
Property Crime
1157.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Fulton is served primarily by River Bend CUSD 2.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Fulton, IL
National Avg
School District
River Bend CUSD 2
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
15.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
87.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Fulton sees average highs of 29.3°F in January
and 84.0°F in July,
with 34.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 31.9 inches of snow per year.
Fulton's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Fulton roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $117,100 and median rent is $910/month.
Fulton's violent crime rate is 113.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1157.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Fulton are operated by River Bend CUSD 2.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1. 15.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Fulton, IL has a population of 3,519, a median household income of $47,292, and an unemployment rate of 3.5%.
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.
Fulton averages 29.3°F in January and 84.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 34.3 inches
with about 31.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Fulton, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 61252.
The population of Fulton, Illinois is 3,519 with a median age of 47.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Fulton: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $117,100, median household income $47,292, crime index 40 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Fulton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
