© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Pontiac.
About
Life in Pontiac
Pontiac is a community of 11,483 people in Illinois. The median household income is $61,279, median rent runs about $842 per month, and median home values are around $116,300. The unemployment rate is 4.1%.
Pontiac at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
42.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.1%
Foreign-Born
2.3%
Broadband Internet
86.6%
of households
Population Growth
-3.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.3% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Pontiac: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Pontiac, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (36.5%), and 2.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
17.5%
of residents
65 and Older
21.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
36.1%
of households
Married Couples
36.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.15
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 34% below IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Pontiac
In Pontiac, rent runs 34% below the IL average, and home values are 56% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
36.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
16.5%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$2,495
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
63.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1965
median year built
Vacant Homes
10.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $157,477 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts below IL average
Unemployment in Pontiac
Unemployment in Livingston County, which includes Pontiac, is 0.6 percentage points lower than the IL average.
Unemployment rate
Pontiac: Livingston County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Livingston County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Pontiac Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute16.7 min avg
How Pontiac residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Pontiac, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 81% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 32 mi
Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal (BMI)
Regional airport · few flights159k passengers boarded in 2025
- 77 mi
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Medium hub9.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 85 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 6% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Pontiac runs 6% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
308.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
898.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Pontiac Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 24 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
71.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Livingston County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Livingston County, which includes Pontiac, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 24 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 24 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 8 | Hail | None reported |
| 2022 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 17 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2020 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 12 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2018 | 8 | Winter Storm | 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.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Livingston County, county-wide
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in McLean County, IL (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 29 miles from Pontiac) is typically good — 241 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
44
Good Days
241
per year
Moderate Days
120
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: McLean County, IL (29 mi away)
Climate83°F summers, 20°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Pontiac has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and cold winters (avg low 20°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/41°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
65°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
36°/20°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
37.0"
Annual Snowfall
25.1"
Hot Days/Year
17
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
122
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
112
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 17°F | 1.99" |
| Feb | 37°F | 21°F | 1.76" |
| Mar | 49°F | 30°F | 2.62" |
| Apr | 63°F | 41°F | 3.49" |
| May | 74°F | 52°F | 4.43" |
| Jun | 82°F | 62°F | 3.90" |
| Jul | 84°F | 66°F | 3.71" |
| Aug | 83°F | 64°F | 3.73" |
| Sep | 78°F | 56°F | 3.39" |
| Oct | 65°F | 44°F | 3.24" |
| Nov | 50°F | 33°F | 2.56" |
| Dec | 38°F | 23°F | 2.13" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Pontiac
Pontiac has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
4.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Saint James Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals
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.
Education12.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Pontiac
Pontiac's student/teacher ratio is 12.9:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 16.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
16.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Pullman National Historical Park, 77 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Pontiac
Pontiac has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (77 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
77 mi awayLincoln Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
92 mi awaySpringfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
92 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
95 mi awayPublic Libraries in Pontiac
Pontiac Public Library
211 East Madison Street, Pontiac
Cities Near Pontiac
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Pontiac?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Pontiac FAQ
Is Pontiac, Illinois affordable?⌄
Pontiac's median rent is $842/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $61,279/year. Median home value is $116,300.
Is Pontiac, Illinois safe?⌄
Pontiac's violent crime rate was 309 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 899 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Pontiac, Illinois?⌄
Livingston County, which includes Pontiac, has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Pontiac, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Pontiac is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $842/month and median household income is $61,279/year. The median home value is $116,300. About 37% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Pontiac, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Pontiac is 17 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