Alton is a small town of 761 in Missouri, with a median household income of $43,958
and a 2.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Alton stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Alton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Alton 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: 88.7
Alton's overall cost of living index is 88.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Alton costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Alton, MO
National Avg
Median Home Value
$126,100
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$613
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
64.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$43,958
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Alton's violent crime rate is 133.0 per 100,000 residents
— 65% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
133.0 /100k
Property Crime
398.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Alton is served primarily by ALTON R-IV.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.7:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Alton, MO
National Avg
School District
ALTON R-IV
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
9.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
25.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
85.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Alton sees average highs of 43.8°F in January
and 88.3°F in July,
with 47.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 4.2 inches of snow per year.
Alton's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Alton roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $126,100 and median rent is $613/month.
Alton's violent crime rate is 133.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 398.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Alton are operated by ALTON R-IV.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.7:1. 25.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Alton, MO has a population of 761, a median household income of $43,958, and an unemployment rate of 2.7%.
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.
Alton averages 43.8°F in January and 88.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.2 inches
with about 4.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Alton, MO is covered by 1 ZIP code: 65606.
The population of Alton, Missouri is 761 with a median age of 36.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Alton: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $126,100, median household income $43,958, crime index 29 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Alton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
