Salinecourthouseandhotelsterling · Union Atlas Co., Beers and Warner / Public domainHarrisburg, IL West Side of Square · Harrisburg Daily Register / Public domainWoolcottmills · Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domainSIP&R Company · Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domain
Harrisburg is a small town of 8,380 in Illinois, with a median household income of $38,937
and a 7.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Harrisburg stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Harrisburg is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Harrisburg 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: 88.9
Harrisburg's overall cost of living index is 88.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Harrisburg costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Harrisburg, IL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$83,100
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$654
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
62.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$38,937
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Harrisburg's violent crime rate is 166.4 per 100,000 residents
— 56% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
166.4 /100k
Property Crime
524.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Harrisburg is served primarily by Harrisburg CUSD 3.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.3:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Harrisburg, IL
National Avg
School District
Harrisburg CUSD 3
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.3:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
19.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
85.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Harrisburg sees average highs of 42.9°F in January
and 89.1°F in July,
with 47.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 3.3 inches of snow per year.
Harrisburg's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Harrisburg roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $83,100 and median rent is $654/month.
Harrisburg's violent crime rate is 166.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 524.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Harrisburg are operated by Harrisburg CUSD 3.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.3:1. 19.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Harrisburg, IL has a population of 8,380, a median household income of $38,937, and an unemployment rate of 7.7%.
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.
Harrisburg averages 42.9°F in January and 89.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.6 inches
with about 3.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Harrisburg, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 62946.
The population of Harrisburg, Illinois is 8,380 with a median age of 36.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Harrisburg: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $83,100, median household income $38,937, 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 Harrisburg side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
