City profile · Illinois · Census ACS 2023

Granite City, IL

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Granite City - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

26,670
Residents
$60,490
Median income
$99,800
Median home
$1,218
Median rent (state)

Granite City - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Granite City lands in the 36th percentile for household income and the 15th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

36th
percentile, household income
9th
percentile, home value
38th
percentile, median rent
15th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Granite City, IL

26,670 people live in Granite City, Illinois - a small city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Granite City households earn a median of $60,490 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 11.2%. Home values in Granite City run a median of $99,800, and the median resident age is 40.1 years. Educational attainment runs 16.2% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 55.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 0 residential building permits were authorized in Granite City (No Permits), down 100% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Granite City's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 3107.7 incidents per 100,000 residents, above the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Illinois tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Illinois at 100.0 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Near Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,218 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Illinois run around $240, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 93.4 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

26,670 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Illinois

Median Household Income

$60,490 /yr

Poverty 11.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.0 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Illinois average

How does Granite City compare to other US cities?

Where Granite City sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 36% higher than other cities
Home value 9% pricier than other cities
Median rent 38% pricier than other cities
Safety 15% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Illinois, Granite City ranks #414 of 455 Illinois cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Granite City against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Illinois only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Illinois-relative analysis

Poverty Rate sits close to the middle of Illinois's city distribution

Among the 1,335 Illinois cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Granite City ranks #397 - the 70th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Granite City only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#823 of 1,311
37th percentile in Illinois
Median Gross Rent
#378 of 1,336
65th percentile in Illinois
Median Home Value
#823 of 1,315
37th percentile in Illinois
Poverty Rate
#397 of 1,335
70th percentile in Illinois
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#767 of 1,336
42nd percentile in Illinois

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Illinois only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

36thIncome percentile
15thSafety percentile

36th percentile nationally for median household income · 15th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Granite City's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Granite City's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 43 Avg. percentile National median
Granite City's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Granite City's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$99,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 91% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Granite City $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Granite City, IL Granite City, IL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Granite City, IL-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Granite City, IL median $60,490/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Granite City, IL's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Granite City, IL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 16.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 11.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 55.9%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
26,670
Median Income
$60,490
Median Home Value
$99,800
Median Age
40.1
Poverty Rate
11.2%
Labor force participation
55.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
16.2%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3107.7
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
617.8
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2489.9
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
9
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
26,500 residents27,000 residents27,500 residents28,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 27,512 residents 26,807 residents ▼ -2.6%
Granite City's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 7
2020 6
2021 4
2022 7
2023 11
2024 0

Permit volume decreased 100% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
83.5%
Carpool
6.5%
Public Transit
1.5%
Walk
0.3%
Work from Home
7.6%
Other
0.6%

Based on 11,708 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Illinois - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$100
avg/month
Natural Gas
$90
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$240
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Illinois state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Illinois state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Granite City sits in

Cost of Living Index
100.0
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,218/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
93.4 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Illinois

Batavia
26,730 people
Vernon Hills
26,772 people
Edwardsville
26,543 people
Oak Forest
26,888 people
Chicago Heights
26,938 people
Woodstock
26,316 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Granite City's 26,670 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Wheeling, WV
26,670 people
Troy, OH
26,716 people
Horn Lake, MS
26,622 people
Palm River-Clair Mel, FL
26,719 people
Keystone, FL
26,723 people
Shoreview, MN
26,724 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Granite City's $60,490 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Lubbock, TX
$60,487 median income
Boston, KY
$60,486 median income
Saranac Lake, NY
$60,494 median income
Galloway, WV
$60,486 median income
Little River, KS
$60,500 median income
Lake Leelanau, MI
$60,500 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Granite City, IL Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Granite City, IL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 79.4% 11.0% 6.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 7.6% White 79.4% Black or African American 11.0% Asian 1.2% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.1% Two or more races 6.3% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Granite City compares to nearby Illinois cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Granite City (this city) 26,670 $60,490
Batavia 26,730 $119,167
Vernon Hills 26,772 $120,625
Edwardsville 26,543 $92,671
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IL FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Granite City, IL?

What is the population of Granite City, IL? +

26,670 people live in Granite City, IL according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Granite City, IL? +

Median annual household income in Granite City runs $60,490, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Granite City? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Granite City; the closest available measure is the Illinois state average, a cost of living index of 100.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Illinois vary by metro area.

Is Granite City, IL safe? +

Granite City has a total crime rate of 3107.7 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Granite City, IL? +

Homes in Granite City carry a median value of $99,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.