St. Joseph is a small town of 3,931 in Illinois, with a median household income of $101,087
and a 0.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
St. Joseph stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether St. Joseph is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All St. Joseph 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
St. Joseph's overall cost of living index is 90.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in St. Joseph costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
St. Joseph, IL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$231,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$919
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
85.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$101,087
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
St. Joseph'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
St. Joseph is served primarily by St Joseph CCSD 169.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
St. Joseph, IL
National Avg
School District
St Joseph CCSD 169
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.4:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
35.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
99.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
St. Joseph 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.
St. Joseph's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes St. Joseph roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $231,500 and median rent is $919/month.
St. Joseph'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 St. Joseph are operated by St Joseph CCSD 169.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1. 35.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
St. Joseph, IL has a population of 3,931, a median household income of $101,087, and an unemployment rate of 0.7%.
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.
St. Joseph 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).
St. Joseph, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 61873.
The population of St. Joseph, Illinois is 3,931 with a median age of 39.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in St. Joseph: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $231,500, median household income $101,087, 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 St. Joseph side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
