What are the schools like in Metropolis, IL?

Metropolis is served primarily by Massac UD 1. The district operates 5 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.8:1.

What is the median household income in Metropolis?

The median household income in Metropolis, IL is $46,397 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.2%.

What is the weather like in Metropolis, IL?

Metropolis has an average high temperature of 43.0°F in January and 88.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 51.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 3.1 inches.

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

Q: Is Metropolis, IL affordable or expensive?

Metropolis's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Metropolis is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $97,700 and the median rent is $688 per month.

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

Metropolis has a violent crime rate of 279.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1274.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Metropolis, IL a Good Place to Live?

Metropolis is a small town of 5,963 in Illinois, with a median household income of $46,397 and a 2.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Metropolis stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

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

All Metropolis 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: 90.1

Metropolis's overall cost of living index is 90.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Metropolis costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Metropolis, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$97,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$688	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	66.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$46,397	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Metropolis's violent crime rate is 279.4 per 100,000 residents — 26% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

279.4 /100k

Property Crime

1274.9 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Metropolis is served primarily by Massac UD 1. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Metropolis, IL	National Avg
School District	Massac UD 1	—
Elementary Schools	5	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	13.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	81.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Metropolis sees average highs of 43.0°F in January and 88.6°F in July, with 51.4 inches of annual precipitation and 3.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Metropolis, IL
Average High — January	43.0°F
Average High — July	88.6°F
Annual Precipitation	51.4"
Annual Snowfall	3.1"

Demographics

Metric	Metropolis, IL	National Avg
Population	5,963	—
Median Age	43.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	88.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	5.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.1%	18.9%
Asian	0.7%	6.3%
Under 18	21.3%	22.2%
65 and over	23.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Brookport, IL 4 mi Paducah, KY 6 mi Massac, KY 8 mi Hendron, KY 8 mi Joppa, IL 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Metropolis

Metropolis, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

62960

Metropolis vs Other Cities

Metropolis, IL vs Brookport, IL Metropolis, IL vs Paducah, KY Metropolis, IL vs Massac, KY Metropolis, IL vs Hendron, KY Metropolis, IL vs Joppa, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Metropolis, IL affordable or expensive?

Metropolis's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Metropolis roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $97,700 and median rent is $688/month.

What is the crime rate in Metropolis, IL?

Metropolis's violent crime rate is 279.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1274.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Metropolis?

Public schools in Metropolis are operated by Massac UD 1. The district has 5 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.8:1. 13.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Metropolis, IL a good place to live?

Metropolis, IL has a population of 5,963, a median household income of $46,397, and an unemployment rate of 2.2%. 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.

What is the weather like in Metropolis?

Metropolis averages 43.0°F in January and 88.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 51.4 inches with about 3.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Metropolis?

Metropolis, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 62960.

What is the population of Metropolis?

The population of Metropolis, Illinois is 5,963 with a median age of 43.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Metropolis?

Key numbers for living in Metropolis: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $97,700, median household income $46,397, crime index 68 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Metropolis side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.