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Living in
Fairview Heights.
About
Life in Fairview Heights
Life in Fairview Heights means settling into a quiet, family-oriented suburb just east of St. Louis where you're close enough to the city for work and culture but removed enough to escape the urban grind. The median household income of about $81,000 paired with median home values around $178,000 keeps housing relatively affordable for the region, though you'll want to factor in that median rent sits around $1,177 monthly—reasonable by suburban standards.
Fairview Heights at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.8%
Foreign-Born
7.1%
Broadband Internet
88.7%
of households
Population Growth
-3.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.1% foreign-born, most often from Philippines
Who lives in Fairview Heights: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Fairview Heights, the largest foreign-born group is from Philippines (28.0%), and 3.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.4%
of residents
65 and Older
19.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
34.7%
of households
Married Couples
41.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.31
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 8% below IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Fairview Heights
In Fairview Heights, rent runs 8% below the IL average, and home values are 33% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
32.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,105
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
69.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1972
median year built
Vacant Homes
11.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $196,698 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IL
Unemployment in Fairview Heights and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in St. Clair County, which includes Fairview Heights, is close to the IL average.
Unemployment rate
Fairview Heights: St. Clair County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
St. Clair County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Fairview Heights 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 min avg
How Fairview Heights residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Fairview Heights, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 72% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 9 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 27% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Fairview Heights runs 27% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
419.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,972.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Fairview Heights Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 20 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
94.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
St. Clair County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In St. Clair County, which includes Fairview Heights, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 20 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $770,000 |
| 2024 | 9 | Hail | $80,500 |
| 2023 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $40,000 |
| 2022 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10.2M |
| 2021 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $91,000 |
| 2020 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $8.1M |
| 2018 | 13 | 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.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
St. Clair County, county-wide
Air Quality55 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in St. Louis city, MO (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 13 miles from Fairview Heights) is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
55
Good Days
125
per year
Moderate Days
232
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: St. Louis city, MO (13 mi away)
Climate88°F summers, 27°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Fairview Heights has warm summers (avg high 88°F) and cold winters (avg low 27°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
67°/46°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
88°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
68°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
43°/27°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
43.6"
Annual Snowfall
11.2"
Hot Days/Year
46
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
98
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
122
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°F | 24°F | 2.46" |
| Feb | 46°F | 28°F | 1.96" |
| Mar | 56°F | 36°F | 3.27" |
| Apr | 68°F | 46°F | 4.48" |
| May | 77°F | 57°F | 4.84" |
| Jun | 86°F | 65°F | 4.36" |
| Jul | 89°F | 69°F | 3.70" |
| Aug | 88°F | 66°F | 3.68" |
| Sep | 81°F | 57°F | 3.36" |
| Oct | 69°F | 46°F | 3.07" |
| Nov | 55°F | 36°F | 3.34" |
| Dec | 44°F | 29°F | 2.32" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Fairview Heights
Uninsured
2.6%
of residents
No hospitals inside Fairview Heights's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.5 mi away · Belleville
Hshs St Elizabeth's Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4 mi away · O Fallon
Touchette Regional Hospital Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.8 mi away · Centreville
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.
Education11.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Fairview Heights
Fairview Heights's student/teacher ratio is 11.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 34.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
34.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Fairview Heights (within 15 miles)
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
13.6 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 8,750 students · in-state tuition $13,299 · 61% graduate · median earnings $59,436 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,267 students · in-state tuition $57,960 · 76% graduate · median earnings $75,998 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 960 students · in-state tuition $7,008 · 29% graduate · median earnings $39,919 (10 yrs after entry)
Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing
14 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 446 students · 93% graduate · median earnings $82,420 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis
14.1 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 337 students · in-state tuition $33,189 · 72% graduate · median earnings $130,161 (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, 10 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Fairview Heights
Fairview Heights has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Gateway Arch National Park (10 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Gateway Arch National Park
National Park
10 mi awayUlysses S Grant National Historic Site
National Historic Site
19 mi awaySte. Geneviève National Historical Park
National Historical Park
43 mi awayLincoln Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
85 mi awaySpringfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
86 mi awayNew Philadelphia National Historic Site
National Historic Site
92 mi awayPublic Libraries in Fairview Heights
Fairview Heights Public Library
10017 Bunkum Road, Fairview Heights
Cities Near Fairview Heights
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Fairview Heights?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Fairview Heights FAQ
Is Fairview Heights, Illinois affordable?⌄
Fairview Heights's median rent is $1,174/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $80,930/year. Median home value is $177,700.
Is Fairview Heights, Illinois safe?⌄
Fairview Heights's violent crime rate was 419 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2973 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Fairview Heights, Illinois?⌄
St. Clair County, which includes Fairview Heights, has an unemployment rate of 4.5%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Fairview Heights, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Fairview Heights is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,174/month and median household income is $80,930/year. The median home value is $177,700. About 33% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Fairview Heights, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Fairview Heights is 22 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