Raleigh is a small town of 242 in Illinois, with a median household income of $49,861
and a 11.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Raleigh stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Raleigh is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Raleigh 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: 88.2
Raleigh's overall cost of living index is 88.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Raleigh costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Raleigh, IL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$77,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$625
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
87.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$49,861
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Raleigh's violent crime rate is 153.3 per 100,000 residents
— 60% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
153.3 /100k
Property Crime
438.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Raleigh, IL
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
8.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
86.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Raleigh sees average highs of 42.9°F in January
and 89.1°F in July,
with 47.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 13.3 inches of snow per year.
Raleigh's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Raleigh roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $77,200 and median rent is $625/month.
Raleigh's violent crime rate is 153.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 438.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Raleigh, IL has a population of 242, a median household income of $49,861, and an unemployment rate of 11.9%.
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.
Raleigh averages 42.9°F in January and 89.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.6 inches
with about 13.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Raleigh, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 62977.
The population of Raleigh, Illinois is 242 with a median age of 56.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Raleigh: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $77,200, median household income $49,861, crime index 33 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Raleigh side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
