What are the schools like in Hamel, IL?

Hamel is served primarily by Edwardsville CUSD 7. The district operates 10 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.0:1.

What is the median household income in Hamel?

The median household income in Hamel, IL is $85,139 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.4%.

What is the weather like in Hamel, IL?

Hamel has an average high temperature of 39.0°F in January and 87.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 42.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 10.8 inches.

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

Q: Is Hamel, IL affordable or expensive?

Hamel's cost of living index is 96, where 100 represents the national average. This means Hamel is 4% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $228,400 and the median rent is $738 per month.

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

Hamel has a violent crime rate of 109.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 873.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Hamel, IL a Good Place to Live?

Hamel is a small town of 948 in Illinois, with a median household income of $85,139 and a 0.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.

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

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

All Hamel 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: 96.3

Hamel's overall cost of living index is 96.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Hamel costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.

Metric	Hamel, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$228,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$738	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	77.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$85,139	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Hamel's violent crime rate is 109.2 per 100,000 residents — 71% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

109.2 /100k

Property Crime

873.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Hamel is served primarily by Edwardsville CUSD 7. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.0:1 .

Metric	Hamel, IL	National Avg
School District	Edwardsville CUSD 7	—
Elementary Schools	10	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	40.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	98.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Hamel sees average highs of 39.0°F in January and 87.3°F in July, with 42.3 inches of annual precipitation and 10.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Hamel, IL
Average High — January	39.0°F
Average High — July	87.3°F
Annual Precipitation	42.3"
Annual Snowfall	10.8"

Demographics

Metric	Hamel, IL	National Avg
Population	948	—
Median Age	33.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	25.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	95.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.2%	18.9%
Asian	0.1%	6.3%
Under 18	30.7%	22.2%
65 and over	13.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Worden, IL 3 mi Alhambra, IL 5 mi Holiday Shores, IL 6 mi Livingston, IL 7 mi Prairietown, IL 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Hamel

Hamel, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

62046

Hamel vs Other Cities

Hamel, IL vs Worden, IL Hamel, IL vs Alhambra, IL Hamel, IL vs Holiday Shores, IL Hamel, IL vs Livingston, IL Hamel, IL vs Prairietown, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hamel, IL affordable or expensive?

Hamel's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average. That makes Hamel roughly 4% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $228,400 and median rent is $738/month.

What is the crime rate in Hamel, IL?

Hamel's violent crime rate is 109.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 873.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Hamel?

Public schools in Hamel are operated by Edwardsville CUSD 7. The district has 10 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.0:1. 40.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Hamel, IL a good place to live?

Hamel, IL has a population of 948, a median household income of $85,139, and an unemployment rate of 0.4%. 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 Hamel?

Hamel averages 39.0°F in January and 87.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 42.3 inches with about 10.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Hamel?

Hamel, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 62046.

What is the population of Hamel?

The population of Hamel, Illinois is 948 with a median age of 33.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Hamel?

Key numbers for living in Hamel: cost of living index 96 (100 = US average), median home $228,400, median household income $85,139, crime index 34 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Hamel side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.