What are the schools like in Sesser, IL?

Sesser is served primarily by Sesser-Valier CUSD 196. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.7:1.

What is the median household income in Sesser?

The median household income in Sesser, IL is $49,681 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 9.5%.

What is the weather like in Sesser, IL?

Sesser has an average high temperature of 39.5°F in January and 88.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 46.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 8.3 inches.

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

Q: Is Sesser, IL affordable or expensive?

Sesser's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Sesser is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $82,000 and the median rent is $671 per month.

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

Sesser has a violent crime rate of 108.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 54.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Sesser, IL a Good Place to Live?

Sesser is a small town of 1,909 in Illinois, with a median household income of $49,681 and a 9.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

Strengths: Sesser stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Sesser is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Sesser 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: 89.0

Sesser's overall cost of living index is 89.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Sesser costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	Sesser, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$82,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$671	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	74.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$49,681	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Sesser's violent crime rate is 108.2 per 100,000 residents — 72% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

108.2 /100k

Property Crime

54.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Sesser is served primarily by Sesser-Valier CUSD 196. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Sesser, IL	National Avg
School District	Sesser-Valier CUSD 196	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	13.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Sesser sees average highs of 39.5°F in January and 88.1°F in July, with 46.0 inches of annual precipitation and 8.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Sesser, IL
Average High — January	39.5°F
Average High — July	88.1°F
Annual Precipitation	46.0"
Annual Snowfall	8.3"

Demographics

Metric	Sesser, IL	National Avg
Population	1,909	—
Median Age	38.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	9.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	32.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	93.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.5%	18.9%
Asian	4.5%	6.3%
Under 18	23.6%	22.2%
65 and over	15.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Valier, IL 5 mi North City, IL 7 mi Nason, IL 7 mi Buckner, IL 8 mi Christopher, IL 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Sesser

Sesser, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

62884

Sesser vs Other Cities

Sesser, IL vs Valier, IL Sesser, IL vs North City, IL Sesser, IL vs Nason, IL Sesser, IL vs Buckner, IL Sesser, IL vs Christopher, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sesser, IL affordable or expensive?

Sesser's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Sesser roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $82,000 and median rent is $671/month.

What is the crime rate in Sesser, IL?

Sesser's violent crime rate is 108.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 54.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Sesser?

Public schools in Sesser are operated by Sesser-Valier CUSD 196. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.7:1. 13.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Sesser, IL a good place to live?

Sesser, IL has a population of 1,909, a median household income of $49,681, and an unemployment rate of 9.5%. 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 Sesser?

Sesser averages 39.5°F in January and 88.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 46.0 inches with about 8.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Sesser?

Sesser, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 62884.

What is the population of Sesser?

The population of Sesser, Illinois is 1,909 with a median age of 38.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Sesser?

Key numbers for living in Sesser: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $82,000, median household income $49,681, crime index 18 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Sesser side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.