Royal is a small town of 339 in Illinois, with a median household income of $88,250
and a 2.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Royal stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+).
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Royal is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Royal 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: 90.8
Royal's overall cost of living index is 90.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Royal costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Royal, IL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$146,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,063
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
87.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$88,250
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Royal's violent crime rate is 355.8 per 100,000 residents
— 6% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
355.8 /100k
Property Crime
1544.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Royal is served primarily by Prairieview-Ogden CCSD 197.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.4:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Royal, IL
National Avg
School District
Prairieview-Ogden CCSD 197
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.4:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
23.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
98.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Royal sees average highs of 34.0°F in January
and 83.6°F in July,
with 41.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 25.0 inches of snow per year.
Royal's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Royal roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $146,600 and median rent is $1,063/month.
Royal's violent crime rate is 355.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1544.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Royal are operated by Prairieview-Ogden CCSD 197.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.4:1. 23.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Royal, IL has a population of 339, a median household income of $88,250, and an unemployment rate of 2.7%.
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.
Royal averages 34.0°F in January and 83.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.2 inches
with about 25.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Royal, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 61871.
The population of Royal, Illinois is 339 with a median age of 41.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Royal: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $146,600, median household income $88,250, crime index 86 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Royal side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
