Is Washington Park, IL a Good Place to Live?
Washington Park is a small town of 2,661 in Illinois, with a median household income of $33,036 and a 15.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.
Strengths: Washington Park stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Washington Park is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Washington Park 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: 96.3Washington Park's overall cost of living index is 96.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Washington Park costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.
| Metric | Washington Park, IL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $34,800 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $799 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.5% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $33,036 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Very SafeWashington Park's violent crime rate is 159.8 per 100,000 residents — 58% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Washington Park is served primarily by East St Louis SD 189. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Washington Park, IL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | East St Louis SD 189 | — |
| Elementary Schools | 5 | — |
| Middle Schools | 2 | — |
| High Schools | 4 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 12.4:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 5.9% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 76.5% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Washington Park sees average highs of 40.2°F in January and 89.0°F in July, with 44.6 inches of annual precipitation and 13.8 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | Washington Park, IL |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 40.2°F |
| Average High — July | 89.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.8" |
Demographics
| Metric | Washington Park, IL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,661 | — |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 15.9% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 21.3 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 4.4% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 81.2% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 9.2% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 0.5% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.3% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 14.0% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Washington Park
Washington Park, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: