Cloud properties in downtown McLeansboro · Nyttend / Public domainIllinois - Mascoutah through McLeansboro - NARA - 23939871 (cropped) · Unknown authorUnknown author or not provided / Public domainFirst Official Airmail Flight, McLeansboro, Illinois, September 26, 1912 SAAM-1974.28.98 1 · Creator:Dorothea Mierisch / Public domain
McLeansboro is a small town of 2,794 in Illinois, with a median household income of $44,871
and a 1.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
McLeansboro stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether McLeansboro is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All McLeansboro 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: 88.4
McLeansboro's overall cost of living index is 88.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in McLeansboro costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
McLeansboro, IL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$79,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$628
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
63.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$44,871
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
McLeansboro's violent crime rate is 77.0 per 100,000 residents
— 80% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
77.0 /100k
Property Crime
115.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
McLeansboro is served primarily by Hamilton Co CUSD 10.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
McLeansboro, IL
National Avg
School District
Hamilton Co CUSD 10
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
17.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
86.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
McLeansboro sees average highs of 41.1°F in January
and 89.2°F in July,
with 47.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 13.3 inches of snow per year.
McLeansboro's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes McLeansboro roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $79,700 and median rent is $628/month.
McLeansboro's violent crime rate is 77.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 115.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in McLeansboro are operated by Hamilton Co CUSD 10.
The district has 2 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.5:1. 17.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
McLeansboro, IL has a population of 2,794, a median household income of $44,871, and an unemployment rate of 1.2%.
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.
McLeansboro averages 41.1°F in January and 89.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.1 inches
with about 13.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
McLeansboro, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 62859.
The population of McLeansboro, Illinois is 2,794 with a median age of 39.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in McLeansboro: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $79,700, median household income $44,871, crime index 14 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare McLeansboro side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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