What it's like to live in Edwardsville
Edwardsville is a small city in Illinois with unemployment below the national average, crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Edwardsville deals with air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, cold winters, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Air quality concerns
- Cold winters
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Edwardsville compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Edwardsville
Based on Edwardsville's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,612
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $52,240 a year
- 47% of Edwardsville renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$59,960
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $29,980
- Homes cost 3.5× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,306/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,306 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $299,800. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $299,800 · 47% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 16% below US
3.6% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.6%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 87% below US
41 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 581/100k · Edwardsville Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 12% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.8 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 16% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 86°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 25°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 46% above US
53% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
10 public schools inside the boundary
There are 10 public schools inside the boundary and 5 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1, close to the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Gateway Arch National Park (16 miles away). There are 6 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Edwardsville's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are air quality that falls short of national benchmarks and cold winters. A year of median rent ($1,306/mo) equals 18% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (16% of workers here already work from home), and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Edwardsville
All Illinois guides →Moving to Glen Carbon →
2 mi away · pop. 13,977
Rent $1,097/mo · Income $97,168
Compare with Edwardsville →Moving to Wood River →
7 mi away · pop. 10,279
Rent $936/mo · Income $62,703
Compare with Edwardsville →Moving to Collinsville →
8 mi away · pop. 24,031
Rent $1,038/mo · Income $67,612
Compare with Edwardsville →Not sure Edwardsville is the one?
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