What are the schools like in Wood River, IL?

Wood River is served primarily by Wood River-Hartford ESD 15. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.4:1.

What is the median household income in Wood River?

The median household income in Wood River, IL is $58,813 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.1%.

What is the weather like in Wood River, IL?

Wood River has an average high temperature of 39.0°F in January and 87.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 41.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 10.8 inches.

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

Q: Is Wood River, IL affordable or expensive?

Wood River's cost of living index is 96, where 100 represents the national average. This means Wood River is 4% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $100,100 and the median rent is $890 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Wood River, IL?

Wood River has a violent crime rate of 274.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1713.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Wood River, IL a Good Place to Live?

Wood River is a small city of 10,313 in Illinois, with a median household income of $58,813 and a 6.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.

Strengths: Wood River stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Wood River is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Wood River 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: 96.3

Wood River's overall cost of living index is 96.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Wood River costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.

Metric	Wood River, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$100,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$890	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	69.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$58,813	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Wood River's violent crime rate is 274.1 per 100,000 residents — 28% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

274.1 /100k

Property Crime

1713.0 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Wood River is served primarily by Wood River-Hartford ESD 15. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Wood River, IL	National Avg
School District	Wood River-Hartford ESD 15	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	14.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Wood River sees average highs of 39.0°F in January and 87.3°F in July, with 41.9 inches of annual precipitation and 10.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Wood River, IL
Average High — January	39.0°F
Average High — July	87.3°F
Annual Precipitation	41.9"
Annual Snowfall	10.8"

Demographics

Metric	Wood River, IL	National Avg
Population	10,313	—
Median Age	34.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	26.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	87.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	7.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.4%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	23.5%	22.2%
65 and over	13.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Rosewood Heights, IL 2 mi East Alton, IL 2 mi Roxana, IL 3 mi Bethalto, IL 3 mi Hartford, IL 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Wood River

Wood River, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

62095

Wood River vs Other Cities

Wood River, IL vs Rosewood Heights, IL Wood River, IL vs East Alton, IL Wood River, IL vs Roxana, IL Wood River, IL vs Bethalto, IL Wood River, IL vs Hartford, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wood River, IL affordable or expensive?

Wood River's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average. That makes Wood River roughly 4% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $100,100 and median rent is $890/month.

What is the crime rate in Wood River, IL?

Wood River's violent crime rate is 274.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1713.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Wood River?

Public schools in Wood River are operated by Wood River-Hartford ESD 15. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.4:1. 14.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Wood River, IL a good place to live?

Wood River, IL has a population of 10,313, a median household income of $58,813, and an unemployment rate of 6.1%. 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 Wood River?

Wood River averages 39.0°F in January and 87.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.9 inches with about 10.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Wood River?

Wood River, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 62095.

What is the population of Wood River?

The population of Wood River, Illinois is 10,313 with a median age of 34.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Wood River?

Key numbers for living in Wood River: cost of living index 96 (100 = US average), median home $100,100, median household income $58,813, crime index 76 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Wood River side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.