© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Pekin.
About
Life in Pekin
Living in Pekin means settling into a genuinely affordable small city where a median home costs around $121,000 and rent averages $819 a month—prices that give you real breathing room compared to most of the country. The job market is stable with a 5.4% unemployment rate, and the 21-minute average commute keeps you close to work or gives you easy access to Peoria if you need more job options. The community is family-oriented with a median age of 41 and about a quarter of households having children, plus the school system includes public schools and a technical education center.
Pekin at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.8%
Foreign-Born
1.6%
Broadband Internet
86.9%
of households
Population Growth
-1.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics1.6% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Pekin: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Pekin, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (26.1%), and 1.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.4%
of residents
65 and Older
19.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
23.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
39.4%
of households
Married Couples
34.7%
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 36% below IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Pekin
In Pekin, rent runs 36% below the IL average, and home values are 54% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
35.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
13.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
91.2
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,521
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
68.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1961
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $142,409 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts above IL average
Unemployment in Pekin
Unemployment in Pekin is 0.7 percentage points higher than the IL average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Pekin Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute21.7 min avg
How Pekin residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Pekin, most residents drive alone to work (81%), and 72% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 7 mi
General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport (PIA)
Regional airport · few flights401k passengers boarded in 2025
- 134 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M 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 60% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Pekin runs 60% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
526.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,805.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Pekin Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 23 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
84.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Tazewell County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Tazewell County, which includes Pekin, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 23 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | $8,000 |
| 2024 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $21,000 |
| 2023 | 21 | Hail | None reported |
| 2022 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $105,000 |
| 2020 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $84,000 |
| 2019 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $129,000 |
| 2018 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $158,000 |
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.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Tazewell County, county-wide
Air Quality45 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Peoria County, IL (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 17 miles from Pekin) is typically good — 214 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
45
Good Days
214
per year
Moderate Days
139
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Peoria County, IL (17 mi away)
Climate85°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Pekin has warm summers (avg high 85°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
63°/42°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
85°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
65°/45°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
37°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
39.5"
Annual Snowfall
26.2"
Hot Days/Year
23
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
118
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
117
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34°F | 18°F | 2.06" |
| Feb | 39°F | 21°F | 1.99" |
| Mar | 51°F | 32°F | 2.69" |
| Apr | 64°F | 42°F | 3.99" |
| May | 74°F | 53°F | 4.69" |
| Jun | 83°F | 62°F | 3.73" |
| Jul | 86°F | 66°F | 3.53" |
| Aug | 85°F | 64°F | 3.31" |
| Sep | 78°F | 56°F | 3.48" |
| Oct | 65°F | 44°F | 3.17" |
| Nov | 51°F | 33°F | 2.70" |
| Dec | 39°F | 23°F | 2.21" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Pekin
Pekin has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
5.8%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Carle Health Pekin Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Carle Health Methodist Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.2 mi away · Peoria
Saint Francis Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.4 mi away · Peoria
Carle Health Proctor Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.9 mi away · Peoria
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.
Education14.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Pekin
Pekin's student/teacher ratio is 14.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 17.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
14
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
17.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Pekin (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,574 students · in-state tuition $43,850 · 76% graduate · median earnings $76,013 (10 yrs after entry)
Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing
9.3 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 273 students · in-state tuition $22,008 · 89% graduate · median earnings $80,384 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 245 students · in-state tuition $18,318 · 62% graduate · median earnings $71,324 (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: Lincoln Home National Historic Site, 53 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Pekin
Pekin has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Lincoln Home National Historic Site (53 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Lincoln Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
53 mi awaySpringfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
53 mi awayNew Philadelphia National Historic Site
National Historic Site
93 mi awayPublic Libraries in Pekin
Pekin Public Library
301 South Fourth Street, Pekin
Cities Near Pekin
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Pekin?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Pekin FAQ
Is Pekin, Illinois affordable?⌄
Pekin's median rent is $819/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $60,790/year. Median home value is $120,700.
Is Pekin, Illinois safe?⌄
Pekin's violent crime rate was 527 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1805 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Pekin, Illinois?⌄
Pekin has an unemployment rate of 5.3%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Pekin, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Pekin is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $819/month and median household income is $60,790/year. The median home value is $120,700. About 36% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Pekin, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Pekin 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