© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Effingham.
About
Life in Effingham
Effingham is a community of 12,258 people in Illinois. The median household income is $72,377, median rent runs about $725 per month, and median home values are around $177,500. Unemployment is low at 3.8%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Effingham at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
14.6%
Foreign-Born
3.1%
Broadband Internet
90.0%
of households
Population Growth
+0.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Effingham: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Effingham, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (47.0%), and 3.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.3%
of residents
65 and Older
21.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
37.3%
of households
Married Couples
40.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.20
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 43% below IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Effingham
In Effingham, rent runs 43% below the IL average, and home values are 33% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
31.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
11.0%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$2,879
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
66.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1974
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $235,050 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1 pts below IL average
Unemployment in Effingham
Unemployment in Effingham County, which includes Effingham, is 1 percentage points lower than the IL average.
Unemployment rate
Effingham: Effingham County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Effingham County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Effingham Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute13.3 min avg
How Effingham residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Effingham, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 87% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 52 mi
Decatur Airport (DEC)
Regional airport · few flights11k passengers boarded in 2025
- 101 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 22% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Effingham runs 22% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
256.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,524.8
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Effingham Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 19 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
53.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Effingham County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Effingham County, which includes Effingham, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 19 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 11 | Flash Flood | None reported |
| 2021 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | $250,000 |
| 2019 | 6 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
| 2018 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $106,000 |
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.
2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Effingham County, county-wide
Air Quality35 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Effingham County, which includes Effingham, is typically good.
Median AQI
35
Effingham County, county-wide
Climate87°F summers, 23°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Effingham has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and cold winters (avg low 23°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
65°/43°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
68°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
41°/23°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
44.9"
Annual Snowfall
14.6"
Hot Days/Year
38
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
114
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
116
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37°F | 20°F | 2.93" |
| Feb | 43°F | 23°F | 2.44" |
| Mar | 54°F | 32°F | 3.30" |
| Apr | 66°F | 42°F | 4.84" |
| May | 76°F | 54°F | 5.27" |
| Jun | 85°F | 63°F | 4.87" |
| Jul | 89°F | 66°F | 4.29" |
| Aug | 87°F | 64°F | 3.19" |
| Sep | 81°F | 56°F | 2.89" |
| Oct | 69°F | 44°F | 3.49" |
| Nov | 54°F | 34°F | 3.73" |
| Dec | 42°F | 25°F | 2.77" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Effingham
Effingham has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
7.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
St Anthonys Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
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.
Education14.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Effingham
Effingham's student/teacher ratio is 14.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 29.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
29.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: George Rogers Clark National Historical Park, 63 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Effingham
Effingham has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being George Rogers Clark National Historical Park (63 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
George Rogers Clark National Historical Park
National Historical Park
63 mi awayLincoln Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
75 mi awaySpringfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
75 mi awayGateway Arch National Park
National Park
95 mi awayPublic Libraries in Effingham
Effingham Public Library
200 North Third Street, Effingham
Cities Near Effingham
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Effingham?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Effingham FAQ
Is Effingham, Illinois affordable?⌄
Effingham's median rent is $725/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $72,377/year. Median home value is $177,500.
Is Effingham, Illinois safe?⌄
Effingham's violent crime rate was 257 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1525 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Effingham, Illinois?⌄
Effingham County, which includes Effingham, 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 Effingham, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Effingham is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $725/month and median household income is $72,377/year. The median home value is $177,500. About 32% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Effingham, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Effingham is 13 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