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Living in
Carbondale.
About
Life in Carbondale
Life in Carbondale centers on Southern Illinois University—the institution that fundamentally shapes the city's character, economy, and culture. But if you're moving here as a working professional or someone seeking affordability outside the university bubble, here's what actually matters: rent averages $770 a month and median home values sit around $128,000, making this one of the most affordable places to live in Illinois. The younger demographic (median age 26.6) reflects the student influence, and that brings both energy and occasional friction—the city has a strong tradition of political activism and civic engagement through organizations like the Peace Coalition and various grassroots groups, which shapes how decisions get made around here.
Carbondale at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
24.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
37.4%
Foreign-Born
10.1%
Broadband Internet
85.3%
of households
Population Growth
-2.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics10.1% foreign-born, most often from Nepal
Who lives in Carbondale: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Carbondale, the largest foreign-born group is from Nepal (15.8%), and 4.3% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
13.4%
of residents
65 and Older
9.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
15.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
52.8%
of households
Married Couples
15.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
1.89
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 39% below IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Carbondale
In Carbondale, rent runs 39% below the IL average, and home values are 51% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
53.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
31.4%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$3,166
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
26.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1976
median year built
Vacant Homes
19.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $144,209 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.8 pts above IL average
Unemployment in Carbondale
Unemployment in Carbondale is 0.8 percentage points higher than the IL average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Carbondale Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute16.4 min avg
How Carbondale residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Carbondale, most residents drive alone to work (64%), and 86% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 11 mi
Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois (MWA)
Regional airport · few flights13k passengers boarded in 2025
- 94 mi
St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
Medium hub7.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 199% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Carbondale runs 199% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
985.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,485.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Carbondale Police Department
Natural DisastersStrong Wind most common — 32 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
87.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Jackson County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Jackson County, which includes Carbondale, the most common type is strong wind, with 32 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 32 | Strong Wind | $572,100 |
| 2024 | 45 | Dense Fog | $239,000 |
| 2023 | 41 | Strong Wind | $170,000 |
| 2022 | 37 | Dense Fog | $23,000 |
| 2021 | 32 | Strong Wind | $83,000 |
| 2020 | 33 | Thunderstorm Wind | $173,000 |
| 2019 | 39 | Flood | $335,000 |
| 2018 | 46 | Strong Wind | $146,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
6 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Jackson County, county-wide
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Perry County, MO (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 32 miles from Carbondale) is typically good — 216 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
41
Good Days
216
per year
Moderate Days
38
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Perry County, MO (32 mi away)
Climate87°F summers, 26°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Carbondale has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and cold winters (avg low 26°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
67°/45°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/65°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
69°/45°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
44°/26°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
49.0"
Annual Snowfall
11.4"
Hot Days/Year
38
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
103
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
121
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 41°F | 23°F | 3.36" |
| Feb | 46°F | 26°F | 3.11" |
| Mar | 56°F | 35°F | 4.52" |
| Apr | 68°F | 44°F | 5.55" |
| May | 77°F | 55°F | 5.18" |
| Jun | 85°F | 64°F | 4.60" |
| Jul | 88°F | 68°F | 4.12" |
| Aug | 87°F | 65°F | 3.16" |
| Sep | 81°F | 56°F | 3.44" |
| Oct | 70°F | 44°F | 3.70" |
| Nov | 56°F | 35°F | 4.49" |
| Dec | 45°F | 27°F | 3.72" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 1.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Carbondale
Carbondale has 1 hospital, averaging 1.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
5.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
1.0 / 5
Memorial Hospital of Carbondale
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
St Joseph Memorial Hospital
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 6.6 mi away · Murphysboro
Herrin Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.1 mi away · Herrin
Heartland Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.4 mi away · Marion
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education13.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Carbondale
Carbondale's student/teacher ratio is 13.7:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 48.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
48.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Carbondale
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Public · 4-year · 8,494 students · in-state tuition $13,544 · 61% graduate · median earnings $57,388 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park, 48 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Carbondale
Carbondale has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park (48 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park
National Historical Park
48 mi awayGateway Arch National Park
National Park
82 mi awayUlysses S Grant National Historic Site
National Historic Site
84 mi awayPublic Libraries in Carbondale
Carbondale Public Library
405 West Main Street, Carbondale
Cities Near Carbondale
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Carbondale?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Carbondale FAQ
Is Carbondale, Illinois affordable?⌄
Carbondale's median rent is $771/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $32,128/year. Median home value is $127,900.
Is Carbondale, Illinois safe?⌄
Carbondale's violent crime rate was 986 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2485 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Carbondale, Illinois?⌄
Carbondale has an unemployment rate of 5.4%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Carbondale, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Carbondale is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $771/month and median household income is $32,128/year. The median home value is $127,900. About 53% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Carbondale, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Carbondale is 16 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from