What are the schools like in Orion, IL?

Orion is served primarily by Orion CUSD 223. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.1:1.

What is the median household income in Orion?

The median household income in Orion, IL is $88,529 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.5%.

What is the weather like in Orion, IL?

Orion has an average high temperature of 31.8°F in January and 86.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 38.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 36.1 inches.

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

Q: Is Orion, IL affordable or expensive?

Orion's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Orion is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $162,800 and the median rent is $902 per month.

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

Orion has a violent crime rate of 22.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 257.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Orion, IL a Good Place to Live?

Orion is a small town of 1,966 in Illinois, with a median household income of $88,529 and a 3.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

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

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

All Orion 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: 89.3

Orion's overall cost of living index is 89.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Orion costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	Orion, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$162,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$902	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	78.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$88,529	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Orion's violent crime rate is 22.5 per 100,000 residents — 94% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

22.5 /100k

Property Crime

257.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Orion is served primarily by Orion CUSD 223. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Orion, IL	National Avg
School District	Orion CUSD 223	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	30.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Orion sees average highs of 31.8°F in January and 86.1°F in July, with 38.7 inches of annual precipitation and 36.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Orion, IL
Average High — January	31.8°F
Average High — July	86.1°F
Annual Precipitation	38.7"
Annual Snowfall	36.1"

Demographics

Metric	Orion, IL	National Avg
Population	1,966	—
Median Age	35.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	93.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.4%	18.9%
Asian	1.0%	6.3%
Under 18	29.9%	22.2%
65 and over	10.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Lynn Center, IL 4 mi Osco, IL 5 mi Andover, IL 6 mi Swedona, IL 6 mi Ophiem, IL 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Orion

Orion, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

61273

Orion vs Other Cities

Orion, IL vs Lynn Center, IL Orion, IL vs Osco, IL Orion, IL vs Andover, IL Orion, IL vs Swedona, IL Orion, IL vs Ophiem, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Orion, IL affordable or expensive?

Orion's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Orion roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $162,800 and median rent is $902/month.

What is the crime rate in Orion, IL?

Orion's violent crime rate is 22.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 257.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Orion?

Public schools in Orion are operated by Orion CUSD 223. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.1:1. 30.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Orion, IL a good place to live?

Orion, IL has a population of 1,966, a median household income of $88,529, and an unemployment rate of 3.5%. 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 Orion?

Orion averages 31.8°F in January and 86.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.7 inches with about 36.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Orion?

Orion, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 61273.

What is the population of Orion?

The population of Orion, Illinois is 1,966 with a median age of 35.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Orion?

Key numbers for living in Orion: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $162,800, median household income $88,529, crime index 8 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Orion side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.