What it's like to live in Frankfort
Frankfort is a small city in Illinois with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, a highly educated workforce, and a growing population. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Frankfort deals with home prices well above the national average, long average commutes, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and cold winters.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
- Growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- High home prices
- Long commutes
- Air quality concerns
- Cold winters
How Frankfort compares
Median household income
Median home value
What it takes to move to Frankfort
Based on Frankfort's median rent, home value and household income
To buy
$96,240
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $48,120
- Homes cost 3.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Job market
4.6% county unemployment
Unemployment in Will County is 4.6%, 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.
Will County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 89% below US
37 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 608/100k · Frankfort Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 35% above US
35 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 35.2 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 24% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 82°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 18°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 65% above US
59% 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
6 public schools inside the boundary
There are 6 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1, 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 Pullman National Historical Park (18 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Frankfort's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and long average commutes. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (24% of workers here already work from home), and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for people who dread long commutes.
Other places near Frankfort
All Illinois guides →Moving to Richton Park →
5 mi away · pop. 12,521
Rent $1,294/mo · Income $64,554
Compare with Frankfort →Moving to Tinley Park →
6 mi away · pop. 54,842
Rent $1,495/mo · Income $105,189
Compare with Frankfort →Not sure Frankfort is the one?
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