Stanford is a small town of 531 in Illinois, with a median household income of $80,417
and a 7.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Stanford stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Stanford is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Stanford 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: 92.0
Stanford's overall cost of living index is 92.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Stanford costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Stanford, IL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$105,100
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,031
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
88.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$80,417
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Stanford's violent crime rate is 104.4 per 100,000 residents
— 73% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
104.4 /100k
Property Crime
500.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Stanford is served primarily by Olympia CUSD 16.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Stanford, IL
National Avg
School District
Olympia CUSD 16
—
Elementary Schools
3
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.4:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
11.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
95.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Stanford sees average highs of 30.9°F in January
and 84.2°F in July,
with 40.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 24.4 inches of snow per year.
Stanford's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Stanford roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $105,100 and median rent is $1,031/month.
Stanford's violent crime rate is 104.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 500.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Stanford are operated by Olympia CUSD 16.
The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1. 11.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Stanford, IL has a population of 531, a median household income of $80,417, and an unemployment rate of 7.3%.
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.
Stanford averages 30.9°F in January and 84.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.4 inches
with about 24.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Stanford, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 61774.
The population of Stanford, Illinois is 531 with a median age of 30.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Stanford: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $105,100, median household income $80,417, crime index 26 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Stanford side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.