Illinois - Kankakee through Lebanon - NARA - 23939861 (cropped) · Unknown authorUnknown author or not provided / Public domainWarren Hickox House · Teemu08 / CC BY-SA 3.0Kankakee aerial · Daniel Schwen / CC BY-SA 4.0
Kankakee is a small city of 24,795 in Illinois, with a median household income of $42,180
and a 7.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Kankakee stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Kankakee is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Kankakee 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: 92.3
Kankakee's overall cost of living index is 92.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Kankakee costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Kankakee, IL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$99,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$955
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
48.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$42,180
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Kankakee's violent crime rate is 80.1 per 100,000 residents
— 79% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
80.1 /100k
Property Crime
497.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Kankakee is served primarily by Kankakee SD 111.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.5:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Kankakee, IL
National Avg
School District
Kankakee SD 111
—
Elementary Schools
7
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
13.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
78.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Kankakee sees average highs of 32.5°F in January
and 84.8°F in July,
with 41.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 20.7 inches of snow per year.
Kankakee's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Kankakee roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $99,600 and median rent is $955/month.
Kankakee's violent crime rate is 80.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 497.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Kankakee are operated by Kankakee SD 111.
The district has 7 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.5:1. 13.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Kankakee, IL has a population of 24,795, a median household income of $42,180, and an unemployment rate of 7.4%.
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.
Kankakee averages 32.5°F in January and 84.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.7 inches
with about 20.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Kankakee, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 60901.
The population of Kankakee, Illinois is 24,795 with a median age of 36.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Kankakee: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $99,600, median household income $42,180, crime index 22 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Kankakee side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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