Kirkwood is a small town of 735 in Illinois, with a median household income of $58,333
and a 4.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Kirkwood stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Kirkwood is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Kirkwood 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: 89.5
Kirkwood's overall cost of living index is 89.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Kirkwood costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Kirkwood, IL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$87,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$686
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
84.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$58,333
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Kirkwood's violent crime rate is 184.0 per 100,000 residents
— 52% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
184.0 /100k
Property Crime
688.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Kirkwood, 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
12.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
89.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Kirkwood sees average highs of 30.4°F in January
and 84.1°F in July,
with 39.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 25.6 inches of snow per year.
Kirkwood's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Kirkwood roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $87,200 and median rent is $686/month.
Kirkwood's violent crime rate is 184.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 688.7 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.
Kirkwood, IL has a population of 735, a median household income of $58,333, and an unemployment rate of 4.1%.
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.
Kirkwood averages 30.4°F in January and 84.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.1 inches
with about 25.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Kirkwood, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 61447.
The population of Kirkwood, Illinois is 735 with a median age of 42.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Kirkwood: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $87,200, median household income $58,333, crime index 42 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Kirkwood side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
