What are the schools like in Washington, IL?

Washington is served primarily by Central SD 51. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 17.1:1.

What is the median household income in Washington?

The median household income in Washington, IL is $87,104 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.6%.

What is the weather like in Washington, IL?

Washington has an average high temperature of 33.2°F in January and 85.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 39.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 23.9 inches.

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

Q: Is Washington, IL affordable or expensive?

Washington's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Washington is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $210,400 and the median rent is $1,088 per month.

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

Washington has a violent crime rate of 95.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1129.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Washington, IL a Good Place to Live?

Washington is a small city of 15,988 in Illinois, with a median household income of $87,104 and a 1.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

Strengths: Washington stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

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

All Washington 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: 88.6

Washington's overall cost of living index is 88.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Washington costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	Washington, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$210,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,088	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	80.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$87,104	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Washington's violent crime rate is 95.2 per 100,000 residents — 75% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

95.2 /100k

Property Crime

1129.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Washington is served primarily by Central SD 51. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.1:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Washington, IL	National Avg
School District	Central SD 51	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	17.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	43.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	98.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Washington sees average highs of 33.2°F in January and 85.5°F in July, with 39.3 inches of annual precipitation and 23.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Washington, IL
Average High — January	33.2°F
Average High — July	85.5°F
Annual Precipitation	39.3"
Annual Snowfall	23.9"

Demographics

Metric	Washington, IL	National Avg
Population	15,988	—
Median Age	36.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	95.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.3%	18.9%
Asian	1.0%	6.3%
Under 18	30.4%	22.2%
65 and over	16.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Germantown Hills, IL 5 mi East Peoria, IL 6 mi Morton, IL 7 mi Metamora, IL 7 mi Deer Creek, IL 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Washington

Washington, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

61571

Washington vs Other Cities

Washington, IL vs Germantown Hills, IL Washington, IL vs East Peoria, IL Washington, IL vs Morton, IL Washington, IL vs Metamora, IL Washington, IL vs Deer Creek, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Washington, IL affordable or expensive?

Washington's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Washington roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $210,400 and median rent is $1,088/month.

What is the crime rate in Washington, IL?

Washington's violent crime rate is 95.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1129.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Washington?

Public schools in Washington are operated by Central SD 51. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.1:1. 43.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Washington, IL a good place to live?

Washington, IL has a population of 15,988, a median household income of $87,104, and an unemployment rate of 1.6%. 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 Washington?

Washington averages 33.2°F in January and 85.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.3 inches with about 23.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Washington?

Washington, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 61571.

What is the population of Washington?

The population of Washington, Illinois is 15,988 with a median age of 36.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Washington?

Key numbers for living in Washington: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $210,400, median household income $87,104, crime index 37 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Washington side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.