Ransom is a small town of 319 in Illinois, with a median household income of $67,250
and a 1.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Ransom stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Ransom is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Ransom 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: 90.9
Ransom's overall cost of living index is 90.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Ransom costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Ransom, IL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$108,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$713
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
80.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$67,250
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Ransom's violent crime rate is 96.6 per 100,000 residents
— 75% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
96.6 /100k
Property Crime
653.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Ransom is served primarily by Allen-Otter Creek CCSD 65.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 7.6:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Ransom, IL
National Avg
School District
Allen-Otter Creek CCSD 65
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
7.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
13.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
96.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Ransom sees average highs of 31.9°F in January
and 87.5°F in July,
with 39.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 26.4 inches of snow per year.
Ransom's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Ransom roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $108,000 and median rent is $713/month.
Ransom's violent crime rate is 96.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 653.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Ransom are operated by Allen-Otter Creek CCSD 65.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 7.6:1. 13.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Ransom, IL has a population of 319, a median household income of $67,250, and an unemployment rate of 1.1%.
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.
Ransom averages 31.9°F in January and 87.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.4 inches
with about 26.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Ransom, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 60470.
The population of Ransom, Illinois is 319 with a median age of 33.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Ransom: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $108,000, median household income $67,250, crime index 28 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Ransom side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
