What are the schools like in Olney, IL?

Olney is served primarily by Richland County CUSD 1. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.9:1.

What is the median household income in Olney?

The median household income in Olney, IL is $57,260 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.6%.

What is the weather like in Olney, IL?

Olney has an average high temperature of 37.8°F in January and 86.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 48.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 10.5 inches.

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

Q: Is Olney, IL affordable or expensive?

Olney's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Olney is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $92,300 and the median rent is $724 per month.

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

Olney has a violent crime rate of 224.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1041.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Olney, IL a Good Place to Live?

Olney is a small town of 8,995 in Illinois, with a median household income of $57,260 and a 5.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Olney stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Olney is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Olney 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: 90.2

Olney's overall cost of living index is 90.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Olney costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Olney, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$92,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$724	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	65.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$57,260	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Olney's violent crime rate is 224.8 per 100,000 residents — 41% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

224.8 /100k

Property Crime

1041.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Olney is served primarily by Richland County CUSD 1. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Olney, IL	National Avg
School District	Richland County CUSD 1	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	18.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Olney sees average highs of 37.8°F in January and 86.8°F in July, with 48.8 inches of annual precipitation and 10.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Olney, IL
Average High — January	37.8°F
Average High — July	86.8°F
Annual Precipitation	48.8"
Annual Snowfall	10.5"

Demographics

Metric	Olney, IL	National Avg
Population	8,995	—
Median Age	40.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	92.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.8%	18.9%
Asian	0.3%	6.3%
Under 18	25.1%	22.2%
65 and over	20.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Calhoun, IL 6 mi Claremont, IL 6 mi Dundas, IL 7 mi Noble, IL 8 mi West Liberty, IL 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Olney

Olney, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

62450

Olney vs Other Cities

Olney, IL vs Calhoun, IL Olney, IL vs Claremont, IL Olney, IL vs Dundas, IL Olney, IL vs Noble, IL Olney, IL vs West Liberty, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Olney, IL affordable or expensive?

Olney's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Olney roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $92,300 and median rent is $724/month.

What is the crime rate in Olney, IL?

Olney's violent crime rate is 224.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1041.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Olney?

Public schools in Olney are operated by Richland County CUSD 1. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1. 18.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Olney, IL a good place to live?

Olney, IL has a population of 8,995, a median household income of $57,260, and an unemployment rate of 5.6%. 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 Olney?

Olney averages 37.8°F in January and 86.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 48.8 inches with about 10.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Olney?

Olney, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 62450.

What is the population of Olney?

The population of Olney, Illinois is 8,995 with a median age of 40.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Olney?

Key numbers for living in Olney: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $92,300, median household income $57,260, crime index 55 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Olney side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.