What are the schools like in Pontiac, IL?

Pontiac is served primarily by Pontiac CCSD 429. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.6:1.

What is the median household income in Pontiac?

The median household income in Pontiac, IL is $55,226 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.2%.

What is the weather like in Pontiac, IL?

Pontiac has an average high temperature of 32.4°F in January and 84.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 37.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 25.1 inches.

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

Q: Is Pontiac, IL affordable or expensive?

Pontiac's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Pontiac is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $111,300 and the median rent is $804 per month.

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

Pontiac has a violent crime rate of 237.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1359.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Pontiac, IL a Good Place to Live?

Pontiac is a small city of 11,451 in Illinois, with a median household income of $55,226 and a 4.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: Pontiac 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 Pontiac is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Pontiac 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: 92.0

Pontiac's overall cost of living index is 92.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Pontiac costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Pontiac, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$111,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$804	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	61.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$55,226	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Pontiac's violent crime rate is 237.3 per 100,000 residents — 38% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

237.3 /100k

Property Crime

1359.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Pontiac is served primarily by Pontiac CCSD 429. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Pontiac, IL	National Avg
School District	Pontiac CCSD 429	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	16.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	87.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Pontiac sees average highs of 32.4°F in January and 84.3°F in July, with 37.0 inches of annual precipitation and 25.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Pontiac, IL
Average High — January	32.4°F
Average High — July	84.3°F
Annual Precipitation	37.0"
Annual Snowfall	25.1"

Demographics

Metric	Pontiac, IL	National Avg
Population	11,451	—
Median Age	41.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	15.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	84.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	9.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.1%	18.9%
Asian	1.2%	6.3%
Under 18	19.3%	22.2%
65 and over	18.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Cornell, IL 8 mi Odell, IL 10 mi Flanagan, IL 11 mi Chenoa, IL 11 mi Fairbury, IL 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Pontiac

Pontiac, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

61764

Pontiac vs Other Cities

Pontiac, IL vs Cornell, IL Pontiac, IL vs Odell, IL Pontiac, IL vs Flanagan, IL Pontiac, IL vs Chenoa, IL Pontiac, IL vs Fairbury, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pontiac, IL affordable or expensive?

Pontiac's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Pontiac roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $111,300 and median rent is $804/month.

What is the crime rate in Pontiac, IL?

Pontiac's violent crime rate is 237.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1359.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Pontiac?

Public schools in Pontiac are operated by Pontiac CCSD 429. The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.6:1. 16.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Pontiac, IL a good place to live?

Pontiac, IL has a population of 11,451, a median household income of $55,226, and an unemployment rate of 4.2%. 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 Pontiac?

Pontiac averages 32.4°F in January and 84.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.0 inches with about 25.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Pontiac?

Pontiac, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 61764.

What is the population of Pontiac?

The population of Pontiac, Illinois is 11,451 with a median age of 41.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Pontiac?

Key numbers for living in Pontiac: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $111,300, median household income $55,226, crime index 63 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Pontiac side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.