What are the schools like in Hudson, IL?

Hudson is served primarily by McLean County USD 5. The district operates 16 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 5 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.4:1.

What is the median household income in Hudson?

The median household income in Hudson, IL is $99,511 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.1%.

What is the weather like in Hudson, IL?

Hudson has an average high temperature of 33.4°F in January and 86.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 38.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 20.1 inches.

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

Q: Is Hudson, IL affordable or expensive?

Hudson's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Hudson is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $210,000 and the median rent is $1,167 per month.

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

Hudson has a violent crime rate of 57.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 57.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Hudson, IL a Good Place to Live?

Hudson is a small town of 2,225 in Illinois, with a median household income of $99,511 and a 2.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

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

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

All Hudson 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

Hudson's overall cost of living index is 92.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Hudson costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Hudson, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$210,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,167	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	98.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$99,511	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Hudson's violent crime rate is 57.4 per 100,000 residents — 85% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

57.4 /100k

Property Crime

57.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Hudson is served primarily by McLean County USD 5. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Hudson, IL	National Avg
School District	McLean County USD 5	—
Elementary Schools	16	—
Middle Schools	4	—
High Schools	5	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	42.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Hudson sees average highs of 33.4°F in January and 86.0°F in July, with 38.4 inches of annual precipitation and 20.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Hudson, IL
Average High — January	33.4°F
Average High — July	86.0°F
Annual Precipitation	38.4"
Annual Snowfall	20.1"

Demographics

Metric	Hudson, IL	National Avg
Population	2,225	—
Median Age	36.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	27.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	97.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.4%	18.9%
Asian	0.9%	6.3%
Under 18	31.7%	22.2%
65 and over	13.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Kappa, IL 5 mi Towanda, IL 5 mi Normal, IL 6 mi Carlock, IL 7 mi Bloomington, IL 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Hudson

Hudson, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

61748

Hudson vs Other Cities

Hudson, IL vs Kappa, IL Hudson, IL vs Towanda, IL Hudson, IL vs Normal, IL Hudson, IL vs Carlock, IL Hudson, IL vs Bloomington, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hudson, IL affordable or expensive?

Hudson's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Hudson roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $210,000 and median rent is $1,167/month.

What is the crime rate in Hudson, IL?

Hudson's violent crime rate is 57.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 57.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Hudson?

Public schools in Hudson are operated by McLean County USD 5. The district has 16 elementary, 4 middle, and 5 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1. 42.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Hudson, IL a good place to live?

Hudson, IL has a population of 2,225, a median household income of $99,511, and an unemployment rate of 2.1%. 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.

What is the weather like in Hudson?

Hudson averages 33.4°F in January and 86.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.4 inches with about 20.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Hudson?

Hudson, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 61748.

What is the population of Hudson?

The population of Hudson, Illinois is 2,225 with a median age of 36.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Hudson?

Key numbers for living in Hudson: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $210,000, median household income $99,511, crime index 10 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Hudson side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.