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Living in
Granite City.
About
Life in Granite City
If you're considering a move here, understand that Granite City is a working-class community in transition. It's affordable—median home values around $104k and median rent under $800 put it firmly in the budget-friendly category—and the job market is solid with unemployment around 4.5%. The commute to St.
Granite City at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
14.8%
Foreign-Born
4.1%
Broadband Internet
85.3%
of households
Population Growth
-2.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Granite City: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Granite City, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (32.6%), and 6.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.0%
of residents
65 and Older
19.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
38.1%
of households
Married Couples
34.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.27
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 35% below IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Granite City
In Granite City, rent runs 35% below the IL average, and home values are 60% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
38.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
17.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,062
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
72.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1957
median year built
Vacant Homes
10.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $115,341 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IL
Unemployment in Granite City and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Granite City is close to the IL average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Granite City 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
Commute22.1 min avg
How Granite City residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Granite City, most residents drive alone to work (83%), and 69% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 12 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 131% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Granite City runs 131% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
760.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,705
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Granite City 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 Granite City, 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 Granite City, 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
Granite City 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
45.1"
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" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Granite City
Granite City has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
6.7%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Gateway Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Christian Hospital Northeast
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.8 mi away · Saint Louis
St Louis-john Cochran VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 8.3 mi away · St. Louis
Ssm Health Saint Louis University Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.5 mi away · Saint Louis
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.
Education16.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Granite City
Granite City's student/teacher ratio is 16.7:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 15.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
15.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Granite City (within 15 miles)
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
8.2 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
9.6 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
9.7 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, 8 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Granite City
Granite City has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Gateway Arch National Park (8 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Gateway Arch National Park
National Park
8 mi awayUlysses S Grant National Historic Site
National Historic Site
17 mi awaySte. Geneviève National Historical Park
National Historical Park
52 mi awayLincoln Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
78 mi awaySpringfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
79 mi awayNew Philadelphia National Historic Site
National Historic Site
80 mi awayPublic Libraries in Granite City
Six Mile Regional Library District
2001 Delmar Avenue, Granite City
Granite City Branch Library
2145 Johnson Road, Granite City
Cities Near Granite City
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Granite City?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Granite City FAQ
Is Granite City, Illinois affordable?⌄
Granite City's median rent is $834/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $59,205/year. Median home value is $104,300.
Is Granite City, Illinois safe?⌄
Granite City's violent crime rate was 761 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2705 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Granite City, Illinois?⌄
Granite City has an unemployment rate of 4.5%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Granite City, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Granite City is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $834/month and median household income is $59,205/year. The median home value is $104,300. About 39% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Granite City, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Granite City 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