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Living in
Edwardsville.
About
Life in Edwardsville
Living in Edwardsville means being part of a growing community just outside St. Louis's orbit—close enough for commuting (average 24 minutes) but with its own distinct identity anchored by the university and significant dairy operations. Housing costs are reasonable for the region, with median home values around $300,000 and rentals near $1,231 monthly, making it more affordable than many comparable suburbs.
Edwardsville at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
31.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
11.6%
Foreign-Born
2.2%
Broadband Internet
92.5%
of households
Population Growth
-1.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.2% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Edwardsville: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Edwardsville, the largest foreign-born group is from India (27.7%), and 1.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
18.2%
of residents
65 and Older
12.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
28.9%
of households
Married Couples
47.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.38
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 about average for IL
Rent, home values, and income in Edwardsville
In Edwardsville, home values are 14% above the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
47.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
30.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,518
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
66.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1986
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $327,836 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1 pts below IL average
Unemployment in Edwardsville and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Edwardsville is 1 percentage points lower than the IL average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Edwardsville Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
St. Louis, MO-IL metro area
Commute22.8 min avg
How Edwardsville residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Edwardsville, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 60% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 19 mi
Scott AFB/Midamerica Airport (BLV)
Regional airport · few flights193k passengers boarded in 2025
- 23 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 87% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Edwardsville runs 87% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
41.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
580.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Edwardsville Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 14 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
93.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Madison County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Madison County, which includes Edwardsville, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 14 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $37,000 |
| 2024 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $217,000 |
| 2023 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $250,000 |
| 2022 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $106,000 |
| 2021 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5.0M |
| 2020 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $24.8M |
| 2018 | 16 | Hail | 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.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Madison County, county-wide
Air Quality49 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Madison County, which includes Edwardsville, is typically good — 191 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
49
Good Days
191
per year
Moderate Days
170
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Madison County, county-wide
Climate86°F summers, 25°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Edwardsville has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and cold winters (avg low 25°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
65°/45°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
67°/48°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
42°/25°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
45.8"
Annual Snowfall
10.8"
Hot Days/Year
29
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
85
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
112
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39°F | 22°F | 2.53" |
| Feb | 44°F | 25°F | 2.52" |
| Mar | 54°F | 35°F | 3.46" |
| Apr | 66°F | 45°F | 4.92" |
| May | 75°F | 56°F | 5.46" |
| Jun | 84°F | 66°F | 3.40" |
| Jul | 87°F | 69°F | 3.95" |
| Aug | 86°F | 67°F | 3.30" |
| Sep | 80°F | 60°F | 3.38" |
| Oct | 68°F | 48°F | 2.93" |
| Nov | 54°F | 37°F | 3.43" |
| Dec | 44°F | 27°F | 2.59" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Edwardsville
Uninsured
3.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside Edwardsville's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Anderson Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.3 mi away · Maryville
Gateway Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.6 mi away · Granite City
Alton Mental Health Center
Psychiatric · 10.8 mi away · Alton
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.
Education16.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Edwardsville
Edwardsville's student/teacher ratio is 16.6:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 52.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
52.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Edwardsville
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Public · 4-year · 8,750 students · in-state tuition $13,299 · 61% graduate · median earnings $59,436 (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: Gateway Arch National Park, 16 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Edwardsville
Edwardsville has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Gateway Arch National Park (16 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Gateway Arch National Park
National Park
16 mi awayUlysses S Grant National Historic Site
National Historic Site
26 mi awaySte. Geneviève National Historical Park
National Historical Park
56 mi awayLincoln Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
72 mi awaySpringfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
72 mi awayNew Philadelphia National Historic Site
National Historic Site
81 mi awayPublic Libraries in Edwardsville
Edwardsville Public Library
112 South Kansas Street, Edwardsville
Cities Near Edwardsville
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Edwardsville?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Edwardsville FAQ
Is Edwardsville, Illinois affordable?⌄
Edwardsville's median rent is $1,306/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $86,721/year. Median home value is $299,800.
Is Edwardsville, Illinois safe?⌄
Edwardsville's violent crime rate was 41 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 581 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Edwardsville, Illinois?⌄
Edwardsville has an unemployment rate of 3.6%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Edwardsville, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Edwardsville is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,306/month and median household income is $86,721/year. The median home value is $299,800. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Edwardsville, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Edwardsville is 23 minutes, which is about 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