Hillsdale is a small town of 552 in Illinois, with a median household income of $91,154
and a 17.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Hillsdale stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Hillsdale is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Hillsdale 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: 89.3
Hillsdale's overall cost of living index is 89.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Hillsdale costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Hillsdale, IL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$91,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$746
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
90.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$91,154
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Hillsdale's violent crime rate is 324.9 per 100,000 residents
— 15% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
324.9 /100k
Property Crime
2292.1 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Hillsdale, IL
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
6.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
87.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Hillsdale sees average highs of 30.8°F in January
and 85.7°F in July,
with 38.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 28.4 inches of snow per year.
Hillsdale's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Hillsdale roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $91,000 and median rent is $746/month.
Hillsdale's violent crime rate is 324.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2292.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Hillsdale, IL has a population of 552, a median household income of $91,154, and an unemployment rate of 17.6%.
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.
Hillsdale averages 30.8°F in January and 85.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.8 inches
with about 28.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Hillsdale, Illinois is 552 with a median age of 35.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Hillsdale: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $91,000, median household income $91,154, crime index 95 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Hillsdale side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.