Alton, IL
Census place 1701114 · pop 25,279
Birthplace of Robert Wadlow, the tallest person in recorded history, and site of the final Lincoln-Douglas debate.
Source ↗Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities
951 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
44.3% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities
-5.1% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
1.83% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
17.8% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
19.6% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities
2705 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
21.0% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$54,568 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
21.5% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 42 AQI · worse than most cities
49 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 1 days · worse than most cities
6 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
28.5% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
59.9% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities
92/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
90.5% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.44 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities
9.5% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
23 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
3.3% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$103,700 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$938/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
Frequently asked
- Is Alton, IL a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Alton scores 39/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is rent and its weakest is violent crime rate. Illinois overall ranks #39 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is Alton, IL?
- Alton reports 951 violent crimes per 100k and 2705 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Alton, IL expensive to live in?
- Alton has a median home value of $103,700 and typical rent around $938/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Alton, IL?
- Its weakest measured area is violent crime rate (951/100k) — 4/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Alton, IL best at?
- Its strongest measured area is rent ($938/mo) — 98/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: Birthplace of Robert Wadlow, the tallest person in recorded history, and site of the final Lincoln-Douglas debate.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.