Below Average CostVery SafeEl Paso-Gridley CUSD 11
Median Income
$56,818
household / year
Median Home Value
$130,700
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$696
gross / month
Cost of Living
92
national avg = 100
Is Gridley, IL a Good Place to Live?
Gridley is a small town of 1,217 in Illinois, with a median household income of $56,818
and a 3.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Gridley stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Gridley is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Gridley 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
Gridley's overall cost of living index is 92.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Gridley costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Gridley, IL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$130,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$696
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
70.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$56,818
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Gridley'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
Gridley is served primarily by El Paso-Gridley CUSD 11.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.9:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Gridley, IL
National Avg
School District
El Paso-Gridley CUSD 11
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.9:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
28.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
93.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Gridley sees average highs of 31.7°F in January
and 83.9°F in July,
with 36.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 19.9 inches of snow per year.
Gridley's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Gridley roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $130,700 and median rent is $696/month.
Gridley'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.
Public schools in Gridley are operated by El Paso-Gridley CUSD 11.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.9:1. 28.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Gridley, IL has a population of 1,217, a median household income of $56,818, and an unemployment rate of 3.7%.
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.
Gridley averages 31.7°F in January and 83.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.3 inches
with about 19.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Gridley, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 61744.
The population of Gridley, Illinois is 1,217 with a median age of 39.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Gridley: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $130,700, median household income $56,818, crime index 26 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Gridley side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.