Very AffordableHigher than AverageSalt Fork CUSD 512
Median Income
$56,944
household / year
Median Home Value
$67,300
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$810
gross / month
Cost of Living
87
national avg = 100
Is Sidell, IL a Good Place to Live?
Sidell is a small town of 490 in Illinois, with a median household income of $56,944
and a 5.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is
13% below the national average.
Strengths:
Sidell stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Sidell is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Sidell 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: 86.8
Sidell's overall cost of living index is 86.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Sidell costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.
Metric
Sidell, IL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$67,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$810
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
93.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$56,944
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Higher than Average
Sidell's violent crime rate is 683.8 per 100,000 residents
— 80% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
683.8 /100k
Property Crime
2416.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Sidell is served primarily by Salt Fork CUSD 512.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Sidell, IL
National Avg
School District
Salt Fork CUSD 512
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.4:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
8.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
94.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Sidell sees average highs of 32.6°F in January
and 84.1°F in July,
with 40.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 23.7 inches of snow per year.
Sidell's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Sidell roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $67,300 and median rent is $810/month.
Sidell's violent crime rate is 683.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2416.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Sidell are operated by Salt Fork CUSD 512.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1. 8.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sidell, IL has a population of 490, a median household income of $56,944, and an unemployment rate of 5.6%.
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.
Sidell averages 32.6°F in January and 84.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.4 inches
with about 23.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Sidell, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 61876.
The population of Sidell, Illinois is 490 with a median age of 45.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Sidell: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $67,300, median household income $56,944, crime index 154 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Sidell side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.