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Living in
Wood River.
About
Life in Wood River
Wood River is a community of 10,315 people in Illinois. The median household income is $62,703, median rent runs about $936 per month, and median home values are around $108,100. The unemployment rate is 4.0%.
Wood River at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.9%
Foreign-Born
1.9%
Broadband Internet
90.7%
of households
Population Growth
-2.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics1.9% foreign-born, most often from Dominican Republic
Who lives in Wood River: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Wood River, the largest foreign-born group is from Dominican Republic (37.8%), and 2.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.2%
of residents
65 and Older
16.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
36.3%
of households
Married Couples
37.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.23
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 27% below IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Wood River
In Wood River, rent runs 27% below the IL average, and home values are 59% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
45.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,133
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
66.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1955
median year built
Vacant Homes
10.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $133,723 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts below IL average
Unemployment in Wood River and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Madison County, which includes Wood River, is 0.6 percentage points lower than the IL average.
Unemployment rate
Wood River: Madison County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Madison County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Wood River is about 4% of Madison County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Wood River 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
Commute23.7 min avg
How Wood River residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Wood River, most residents drive alone to work (84%), and 69% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 17 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 49% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Wood River runs 49% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
166.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,724.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Wood River 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 Wood River, 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
Wood River is about 4% of Madison County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality49 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Madison County, which includes Wood River, 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
Wood River is about 4% of Madison County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate86°F summers, 25°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Wood River 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
41.9"
Annual Snowfall
10.8"
Hot Days/Year
29
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
85
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
99
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" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Wood River
Uninsured
6.6%
of residents
No hospitals inside Wood River's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Alton Mental Health Center
Psychiatric · 3.9 mi away · Alton
Alton Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.9 mi away · Alton
Christian Hospital Northeast
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.7 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.
Education13.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Wood River
Wood River's student/teacher ratio is 13.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 15.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
15.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Wood River (within 15 miles)
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
6.4 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 8,750 students · in-state tuition $13,299 · 61% graduate · median earnings $59,436 (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, 17 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Wood River
Wood River has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Gateway Arch National Park (17 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Gateway Arch National Park
National Park
17 mi awayUlysses S Grant National Historic Site
National Historic Site
26 mi awaySte. Geneviève National Historical Park
National Historical Park
61 mi awayLincoln Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
69 mi awaySpringfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
69 mi awayNew Philadelphia National Historic Site
National Historic Site
75 mi awayPublic Libraries in Wood River
Wood River Public Library
326 East Ferguson Avenue, Wood River
Cities Near Wood River
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Wood River?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Wood River FAQ
Is Wood River, Illinois affordable?⌄
Wood River's median rent is $936/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $62,703/year. Median home value is $108,100.
Is Wood River, Illinois safe?⌄
Wood River's violent crime rate was 167 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1725 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Wood River, Illinois?⌄
Madison County, which includes Wood River, has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Wood River, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Wood River is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $936/month and median household income is $62,703/year. The median home value is $108,100. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Wood River, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Wood River is 24 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