What are the schools like in Thomson, IL?

School district data for Thomson is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

What is the median household income in Thomson?

The median household income in Thomson, IL is $67,500 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.7%.

What is the weather like in Thomson, IL?

Thomson has an average high temperature of 29.3°F in January and 84.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 34.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 33.4 inches.

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

Q: Is Thomson, IL affordable or expensive?

Thomson's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Thomson is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $100,700 and the median rent is $921 per month.

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

Thomson has a violent crime rate of 48.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 83.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Thomson, IL a Good Place to Live?

Thomson is a small town of 1,284 in Illinois, with a median household income of $67,500 and a 4.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Thomson stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

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

All Thomson 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: 92.6

Thomson's overall cost of living index is 92.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Thomson costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Thomson, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$100,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$921	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	75.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$67,500	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Thomson's violent crime rate is 48.9 per 100,000 residents — 87% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

48.9 /100k

Property Crime

83.9 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Metric	Thomson, IL	National Avg
School District	N/A	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	N/A	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	6.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	70.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Thomson sees average highs of 29.3°F in January and 84.0°F in July, with 34.3 inches of annual precipitation and 33.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Thomson, IL
Average High — January	29.3°F
Average High — July	84.0°F
Annual Precipitation	34.3"
Annual Snowfall	33.4"

Demographics

Metric	Thomson, IL	National Avg
Population	1,284	—
Median Age	39.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	60.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	35.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.8%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	4.6%	22.2%
65 and over	10.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Andover, IA 7 mi Sabula, IA 8 mi Fulton, IL 8 mi Savanna, IL 8 mi Mount Carroll, IL 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Thomson

Thomson, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

61285

Thomson vs Other Cities

Thomson, IL vs Andover, IA Thomson, IL vs Sabula, IA Thomson, IL vs Fulton, IL Thomson, IL vs Savanna, IL Thomson, IL vs Mount Carroll, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Thomson, IL affordable or expensive?

Thomson's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Thomson roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $100,700 and median rent is $921/month.

What is the crime rate in Thomson, IL?

Thomson's violent crime rate is 48.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 83.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Thomson?

School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.

Is Thomson, IL a good place to live?

Thomson, IL has a population of 1,284, a median household income of $67,500, and an unemployment rate of 4.7%. 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.

What is the weather like in Thomson?

Thomson averages 29.3°F in January and 84.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 34.3 inches with about 33.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Thomson?

Thomson, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 61285.

What is the population of Thomson?

The population of Thomson, Illinois is 1,284 with a median age of 39.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Thomson?

Key numbers for living in Thomson: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $100,700, median household income $67,500, crime index 9 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Thomson side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.