Is West Frankfort, IL a Good Place to Live?
West Frankfort is a small town of 7,168 in Illinois, with a median household income of $41,974 and a 12.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.
Strengths: West Frankfort 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 West Frankfort is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All West Frankfort 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: 88.3West Frankfort's overall cost of living index is 88.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in West Frankfort costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
| Metric | West Frankfort, IL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $71,700 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $663 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.0% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $41,974 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Crime data for West Frankfort is not currently available from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program. Not all local agencies report to the UCR each year.
Schools & Education
West Frankfort is served primarily by Frankfort CUSD 168. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | West Frankfort, IL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Frankfort CUSD 168 | — |
| Elementary Schools | 2 | — |
| Middle Schools | 1 | — |
| High Schools | 1 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 13.5:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.5% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 85.2% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
West Frankfort sees average highs of 40.7°F in January and 88.2°F in July, with 45.9 inches of annual precipitation and 9.8 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | West Frankfort, IL |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 40.7°F |
| Average High — July | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.8" |
Demographics
| Metric | West Frankfort, IL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 7,168 | — |
| Median Age | 40.3 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 12.8% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 23.2 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 96.7% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 0.3% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1.3% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 0.0% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 18.6% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in West Frankfort
West Frankfort, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: