What it's like to live in Manhattan
Manhattan is a small city in Illinois with rent below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and a population that has grown fast since 2020. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Manhattan deals with long average commutes, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and cold winters.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Fast-growing population
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Long commutes
- Air quality concerns
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Manhattan compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Manhattan
Based on Manhattan's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,426
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $48,520 a year
- 55% of Manhattan renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$66,520
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $33,260
- Homes cost 2.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 14% below US
$1,213/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,213 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $332,600. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $332,600 · 55% of renters cost-burdened
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▼ 86% below US
45 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 207/100k · Manhattan Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 44% above US
38 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 37.5 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. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 12% 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 20°F.
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
3 public schools inside the boundary
There are 3 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. 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 Pullman National Historical Park (27 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Manhattan's strongest points are rent below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are long average commutes and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks. A year of median rent ($1,213/mo) equals 11% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for people who dread long commutes and anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Manhattan
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