Towanda is a small town of 426 in Illinois, with a median household income of $67,500
and a 0.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Towanda 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 Towanda is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Towanda 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
Towanda's overall cost of living index is 92.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Towanda costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Towanda, IL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$160,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$863
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
80.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$67,500
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Towanda'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
Towanda is served primarily by McLean County USD 5.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Towanda, IL
National Avg
School District
McLean County USD 5
—
Elementary Schools
16
—
Middle Schools
4
—
High Schools
5
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.4:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
24.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
96.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Towanda sees average highs of 33.4°F in January
and 86.0°F in July,
with 38.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 20.1 inches of snow per year.
Towanda's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Towanda roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $160,800 and median rent is $863/month.
Towanda'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 Towanda are operated by McLean County USD 5.
The district has 16 elementary, 4 middle, and 5 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1. 24.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Towanda, IL has a population of 426, a median household income of $67,500, and an unemployment rate of 0.8%.
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.
Towanda averages 33.4°F in January and 86.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.4 inches
with about 20.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Towanda, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 61776.
The population of Towanda, Illinois is 426 with a median age of 42.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Towanda: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $160,800, median household income $67,500, crime index 26 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Towanda side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
