Ruma is a small town of 519 in Illinois, with a median household income of $74,375
and a 3.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is
6% below the national average.
Strengths:
Ruma stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Ruma is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Ruma 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: 93.9
Ruma's overall cost of living index is 93.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Ruma costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.
Metric
Ruma, IL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$133,100
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$913
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
74.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$74,375
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Ruma's violent crime rate is 34.6 per 100,000 residents
— 91% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
34.6 /100k
Property Crime
308.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Ruma, 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
11.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
89.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Ruma sees average highs of 40.4°F in January
and 89.1°F in July,
with 42.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 10.2 inches of snow per year.
Ruma's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Ruma roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $133,100 and median rent is $913/month.
Ruma's violent crime rate is 34.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 308.4 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.
Ruma, IL has a population of 519, a median household income of $74,375, and an unemployment rate of 3.8%.
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.
Ruma averages 40.4°F in January and 89.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 42.5 inches
with about 10.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Ruma, Illinois is 519 with a median age of 31.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Ruma: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $133,100, median household income $74,375, crime index 11 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Ruma side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.