What are the schools like in St. Charles, IL?

St. Charles is served primarily by St Charles CUSD 303. The district operates 11 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 4 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.3:1.

What is the median household income in St. Charles?

The median household income in St. Charles, IL is $110,346 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.9%.

What is the weather like in St. Charles, IL?

St. Charles has an average high temperature of 30.5°F in January and 84.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 38.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 46.2 inches.

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

Q: Is St. Charles, IL affordable or expensive?

St. Charles's cost of living index is 103, where 100 represents the national average. This means St. Charles is 3% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $351,300 and the median rent is $1,678 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in St. Charles, IL?

St. Charles has a violent crime rate of 92.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1063.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is St. Charles, IL a Good Place to Live?

St. Charles is a small city of 32,776 in Illinois, with a median household income of $110,346 and a 3.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.

Strengths: St. Charles stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether St. Charles is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All St. Charles 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: 102.6

St. Charles's overall cost of living index is 102.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in St. Charles costs roughly 3% more than the average American city.

Metric	St. Charles, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$351,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,678	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	70.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$110,346	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

St. Charles's violent crime rate is 92.2 per 100,000 residents — 76% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

92.2 /100k

Property Crime

1063.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

St. Charles is served primarily by St Charles CUSD 303. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	St. Charles, IL	National Avg
School District	St Charles CUSD 303	—
Elementary Schools	11	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	4	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	52.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

St. Charles sees average highs of 30.5°F in January and 84.0°F in July, with 38.5 inches of annual precipitation and 46.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	St. Charles, IL
Average High — January	30.5°F
Average High — July	84.0°F
Annual Precipitation	38.5"
Annual Snowfall	46.2"

Demographics

Metric	St. Charles, IL	National Avg
Population	32,776	—
Median Age	41.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	28.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	82.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	3.5%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	6.8%	18.9%
Asian	4.4%	6.3%
Under 18	19.7%	22.2%
65 and over	17.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Geneva, IL 3 mi Wayne, IL 4 mi South Elgin, IL 5 mi West Chicago, IL 5 mi Batavia, IL 5 mi

ZIP Codes in St. Charles

St. Charles, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

60174

St. Charles vs Other Cities

St. Charles, IL vs Geneva, IL St. Charles, IL vs Wayne, IL St. Charles, IL vs South Elgin, IL St. Charles, IL vs West Chicago, IL St. Charles, IL vs Batavia, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is St. Charles, IL affordable or expensive?

St. Charles's cost of living index is 103, where 100 is the national average. That puts St. Charles roughly 3% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $351,300 and median rent is $1,678/month.

What is the crime rate in St. Charles, IL?

St. Charles's violent crime rate is 92.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1063.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in St. Charles?

Public schools in St. Charles are operated by St Charles CUSD 303. The district has 11 elementary, 2 middle, and 4 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.3:1. 52.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is St. Charles, IL a good place to live?

St. Charles, IL has a population of 32,776, a median household income of $110,346, and an unemployment rate of 3.9%. 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 St. Charles?

St. Charles averages 30.5°F in January and 84.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.5 inches with about 46.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in St. Charles?

St. Charles, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 60174.

What is the population of St. Charles?

The population of St. Charles, Illinois is 32,776 with a median age of 41.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in St. Charles?

Key numbers for living in St. Charles: cost of living index 103 (100 = US average), median home $351,300, median household income $110,346, crime index 35 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare St. Charles side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.