City profile · Illinois · Census ACS 2023

St. Elmo, IL

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

1,401
Residents
$47,115
Median income
$80,300
Median home
$916
Median rent (state)

St. Elmo - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, St. Elmo places in the 15th percentile for household income and the 42nd percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

15th
percentile, household income
4th
percentile, home value
5th
percentile, median rent
42nd
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: St. Elmo, IL

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 1,401 residents in St. Elmo, a small town within Illinois. The typical household in St. Elmo brings in $47,115 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 15.6%. Typical homes in St. Elmo are valued around $80,300, and the median resident age is 37.6 years. 8.2% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 51.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 1 residential building permits were authorized in St. Elmo (Low Activity), per Census BPS data. St. Elmo reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 1615.5 in FBI UCR data, below the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as 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). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $916 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Illinois run around $240, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 48.8 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Low).

Population

1,401 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Illinois

Median Household Income

$47,115 /yr

Poverty 15.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.0 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Illinois average

How does St. Elmo compare to other US cities?

St. Elmo measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 15% higher than other cities
Home value 4% pricier than other cities
Median rent 5% pricier than other cities
Safety 42% safer than other cities

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

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Illinois alone, St. Elmo ranks #324 of 455 Illinois cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

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

Illinois-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places St. Elmo near the bottom of Illinois's cities

Among the 1,336 Illinois cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, St. Elmo ranks #935 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares St. Elmo only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#1,152 of 1,311
12th percentile in Illinois
Median Gross Rent
#935 of 1,336
0th percentile in Illinois
Median Home Value
#1,070 of 1,315
19th percentile in Illinois
Poverty Rate
#223 of 1,335
83rd percentile in Illinois
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#1,150 of 1,336
13th 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.

15thIncome percentile
42ndSafety percentile

15th percentile nationally for median household income · 42nd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

St. Elmo's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

St. Elmo'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 51 Avg. percentile National median
St. Elmo'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 St. Elmo's home value compares nationally

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

$80,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 96% 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. St. Elmo $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 - St. Elmo, IL St. Elmo, IL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not St. Elmo, 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 St. Elmo, IL median $47,115/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%
St. Elmo, 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 St. Elmo, IL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 8.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 15.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 51.2%

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

Population
1,401
Median Income
$47,115
Median Home Value
$80,300
Median Age
37.6
Poverty Rate
15.6%
Labor force participation
51.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
8.2%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1615.5
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
242.3
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1373.2
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.

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,200 residents1,220 residents1,240 residents1,260 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,248 residents 1,213 residents ▼ -2.8%
St. Elmo's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
1
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 1
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 1

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
83.8%
Carpool
6.8%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
2.0%
Work from Home
7.5%

Based on 562 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 St. Elmo sits in

Cost of Living Index
100.0
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$916/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
48.8 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Illinois

Walnut
1,402 people
Palestine
1,396 people
Arbury Hills
1,408 people
Ladd
1,393 people
Toulon
1,390 people
Waterman
1,419 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to St. Elmo's 1,401 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Lake Winnebago, MO
1,401 people
La Plata, MO
1,401 people
Harbor Isle, NY
1,401 people
Forest, OH
1,401 people
Wheeler, TX
1,401 people
Lyndhurst, VA
1,401 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to St. Elmo's $47,115 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Arlington Heights, OH
$47,115 median income
York, PA
$47,115 median income
Mason, WV
$47,112 median income
Rye, CO
$47,125 median income
Trenton, NJ
$47,102 median income
Maynardville, TN
$47,102 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - St. Elmo, 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 St. Elmo, IL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 96.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.0% White 96.9% Black or African American 0.6% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 2.4% 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 St. Elmo 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
St. Elmo (this city) 1,401 $47,115
Walnut 1,402 $62,019
Palestine 1,396 $60,000
Arbury Hills 1,408 $103,456
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IL FBI UCR Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about St. Elmo, IL?

What is the population of St. Elmo, IL? +

St. Elmo, IL has a population of 1,401 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in St. Elmo, IL? +

The median household income in St. Elmo is $47,115 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in St. Elmo? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for St. Elmo; 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 St. Elmo, IL safe? +

St. Elmo has a total crime rate of 1615.5 per 100,000 residents, which is below 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 St. Elmo, IL? +

Homes in St. Elmo carry a median value of $80,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, 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.