What it's like to live in Fairview Heights
Fairview Heights is a small city in Illinois with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Fairview Heights deals with crime rates above the national average, a population that has been shrinking, cold winters, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Crime above national average
- Shrinking population
- Cold winters
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Fairview Heights compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Fairview Heights
Based on Fairview Heights's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,348
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $46,960 a year
- 33% of Fairview Heights renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$35,540
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $17,770
- Homes cost 2.2× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 17% below US
$1,174/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,174 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $177,700. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $177,700 · 33% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.5% county unemployment
Unemployment in St. Clair County is 4.5%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
St. Clair County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 27% above US
419 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 2973/100k · Fairview Heights Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 15% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 7% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 88°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 27°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforceNear US average
35% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 35% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
4 public schools inside the boundary
There are 4 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Gateway Arch National Park (10 miles away). There are 6 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Fairview Heights's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are crime rates above the national average and a population that has been shrinking. A year of median rent ($1,174/mo) equals 17% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
See all the data for Fairview Heights →·All Illinois cities →
Other places near Fairview Heights
All Illinois guides →Moving to Swansea →
3 mi away · pop. 14,710
Rent $1,137/mo · Income $91,587
Compare with Fairview Heights →Moving to O'Fallon →
5 mi away · pop. 32,262
Rent $1,332/mo · Income $105,982
Compare with Fairview Heights →Moving to Collinsville →
6 mi away · pop. 24,031
Rent $1,038/mo · Income $67,612
Compare with Fairview Heights →Moving to Belleville →
6 mi away · pop. 41,370
Rent $1,019/mo · Income $63,535
Compare with Fairview Heights →Not sure Fairview Heights is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.