What are the schools like in Harvard, IL?

Harvard is served primarily by Harvard CUSD 50. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 10.8:1.

What is the median household income in Harvard?

The median household income in Harvard, IL is $67,938 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.2%.

What is the weather like in Harvard, IL?

Harvard has an average high temperature of 29.2°F in January and 83.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 37.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 31.9 inches.

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

Q: Is Harvard, IL affordable or expensive?

Harvard's cost of living index is 103, where 100 represents the national average. This means Harvard is 3% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $161,400 and the median rent is $1,112 per month.

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

Harvard has a violent crime rate of 139.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 622.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Harvard, IL a Good Place to Live?

Harvard is a small town of 9,705 in Illinois, with a median household income of $67,938 and a 6.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.

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

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Harvard is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Harvard 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

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

Metric	Harvard, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$161,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,112	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	57.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$67,938	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Harvard's violent crime rate is 139.4 per 100,000 residents — 63% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

139.4 /100k

Property Crime

622.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Harvard is served primarily by Harvard CUSD 50. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Harvard, IL	National Avg
School District	Harvard CUSD 50	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	10.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	15.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	76.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Harvard sees average highs of 29.2°F in January and 83.5°F in July, with 37.5 inches of annual precipitation and 31.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Harvard, IL
Average High — January	29.2°F
Average High — July	83.5°F
Annual Precipitation	37.5"
Annual Snowfall	31.9"

Demographics

Metric	Harvard, IL	National Avg
Population	9,705	—
Median Age	29.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	28.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	73.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	23.4%	18.9%
Asian	0.1%	6.3%
Under 18	34.8%	22.2%
65 and over	8.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Lawrence, IL 1 mi Chemung, IL 2 mi Big Foot Prairie, IL 4 mi Big Foot Prairie, WI 5 mi Alden, IL 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Harvard

Harvard, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

60033

Harvard vs Other Cities

Harvard, IL vs Lawrence, IL Harvard, IL vs Chemung, IL Harvard, IL vs Big Foot Prairie, IL Harvard, IL vs Big Foot Prairie, WI Harvard, IL vs Alden, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Harvard, IL affordable or expensive?

Harvard's cost of living index is 103, where 100 is the national average. That puts Harvard roughly 3% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $161,400 and median rent is $1,112/month.

What is the crime rate in Harvard, IL?

Harvard's violent crime rate is 139.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 622.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Harvard?

Public schools in Harvard are operated by Harvard CUSD 50. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.8:1. 15.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Harvard, IL a good place to live?

Harvard, IL has a population of 9,705, a median household income of $67,938, and an unemployment rate of 6.2%. 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 Harvard?

Harvard averages 29.2°F in January and 83.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.5 inches with about 31.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Harvard?

Harvard, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 60033.

What is the population of Harvard?

The population of Harvard, Illinois is 9,705 with a median age of 29.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Harvard?

Key numbers for living in Harvard: cost of living index 103 (100 = US average), median home $161,400, median household income $67,938, 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 Harvard side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.