What it's like to live in Montgomery
Montgomery is a small city in Illinois with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, a growing population, and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Montgomery deals with rent well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and cold winters.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Growing population
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Above-average commute times
- Air quality concerns
- Cold winters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Montgomery compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Montgomery
Based on Montgomery's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,968
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $79,360 a year
- 34% of Montgomery renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$59,900
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $29,950
- Homes cost 2.9× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 40% above US
$1,984/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $1,984 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $299,500. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $299,500 · 34% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.7% county unemployment
Unemployment in Kane County is 4.7%, 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.
Kane County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 54% below US
152 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1212/100k · Montgomery Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 28% above US
33 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 33.4 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 19°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 20% below US
29% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 29%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
4 public schools inside the boundary
There are 4 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, close to 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 (39 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Montgomery's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and commute times longer than most cities. A year of median rent ($1,984/mo) equals 23% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget, people who dread long commutes, and anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Montgomery
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