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Living in
Centralia.
About
Life in Centralia
Centralia is a community of 12,009 people in Illinois. The median household income is $47,807, median rent runs about $765 per month, and median home values are around $89,600. Unemployment is low at 4.8%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Centralia at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
24.3%
Foreign-Born
3.4%
Broadband Internet
85.1%
of households
Population Growth
-2.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Centralia: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Centralia, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (30.9%), and 3.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.4%
of residents
65 and Older
22.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
42.6%
of households
Married Couples
34.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.21
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 40% below IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Centralia
In Centralia, rent runs 40% below the IL average, and home values are 66% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
45.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
28.0%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,558
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
62.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1965
median year built
Vacant Homes
10.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $114,700 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IL
Unemployment in Centralia
Unemployment in Marion County, which includes Centralia, is close to the IL average.
Unemployment rate
Centralia: Marion County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Marion County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Centralia Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute19 min avg
How Centralia residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Centralia, most residents drive alone to work (77%), and 81% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 38 mi
Scott AFB/Midamerica Airport (BLV)
Regional airport · few flights193k passengers boarded in 2025
- 69 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 180% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Centralia runs 180% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
923.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,256.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Centralia Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 12 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
77.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Marion County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Marion County, which includes Centralia, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 12 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $290,000 |
| 2024 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $55,000 |
| 2023 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.0M |
| 2022 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $70,000 |
| 2021 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5,000 |
| 2019 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
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.
2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Marion County, county-wide
Air Quality42 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Hamilton County, IL (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 44 miles from Centralia) is typically good — 245 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
42
Good Days
245
per year
Moderate Days
116
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Hamilton County, IL (44 mi away)
Climate86°F summers, 24°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Centralia has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and cold winters (avg low 24°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
65°/43°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
68°/45°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
42°/24°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
45.3"
Annual Snowfall
6.5"
Hot Days/Year
33
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
109
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
110
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39°F | 21°F | 2.87" |
| Feb | 44°F | 24°F | 2.58" |
| Mar | 54°F | 33°F | 3.90" |
| Apr | 66°F | 44°F | 4.81" |
| May | 75°F | 54°F | 5.20" |
| Jun | 84°F | 62°F | 4.08" |
| Jul | 88°F | 66°F | 3.85" |
| Aug | 87°F | 64°F | 3.54" |
| Sep | 81°F | 56°F | 3.29" |
| Oct | 69°F | 45°F | 3.45" |
| Nov | 55°F | 34°F | 4.09" |
| Dec | 43°F | 26°F | 3.02" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Centralia
Centralia has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
6.5%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Ssm Health St Mary's Hospital -centralia
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Salem Township Hospital
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 12.6 mi away · Salem
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.
Education12.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Centralia
Centralia's student/teacher ratio is 12.7:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 16.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
16.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Gateway Arch National Park, 58 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Centralia
Centralia has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Gateway Arch National Park (58 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Gateway Arch National Park
National Park
58 mi awaySte. Geneviève National Historical Park
National Historical Park
62 mi awayUlysses S Grant National Historic Site
National Historic Site
66 mi awayGeorge Rogers Clark National Historical Park
National Historical Park
86 mi awayLincoln Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
92 mi awaySpringfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
93 mi awayPublic Libraries in Centralia
Centralia Regional Library District
515 East Broadway Avenue, Centralia
Cities Near Centralia
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Centralia?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Centralia FAQ
Is Centralia, Illinois affordable?⌄
Centralia's median rent is $765/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $47,807/year. Median home value is $89,600.
Is Centralia, Illinois safe?⌄
Centralia's violent crime rate was 923 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3257 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Centralia, Illinois?⌄
Marion County, which includes Centralia, has an unemployment rate of 4.8%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Centralia, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Centralia is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $765/month and median household income is $47,807/year. The median home value is $89,600. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Centralia, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Centralia is 19 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