These 4 southwest Illinois cities have median household incomes well below US
While Illinois has a higher statewide median household income than the U.S., many residents of some southwestern cities make much less.
The U.S. Census Bureau provides data on median household incomes from 2017 to 2021, shown in 2021 dollars.
The national median household income is $69,021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Illinois’ median household income is higher, at $72,563, and Missouri’s is lower, coming in at $61,043. At least eight southwestern Illinois cities and seven St. Louis-area localities have higher median household incomes than the U.S. average.
Southwestern Illinois median household incomes range from $26,011 to $96,698 for the 12 locations included, and the 12 Missouri locations have median incomes ranging from $40,195 to $117,593.
In the 12 southwestern Illinois cities included, the three greatest median household incomes are in O’Fallon, Glen Carbon and Shiloh. In the 12 St. Louis, Mo., areas, the highest median household incomes are in Clayton, Creve Coeur and Richmond Heights.
Four southwestern Illinois areas made less than the national median income: Belleville, Granite City, Alton and East St. Louis.
Here’s how metro-east and St. Louis households compare:
Median household income in southwestern Illinois
O’Fallon: $96,698
Glen Carbon: $86,406
Shiloh: $86,292
Swansea: $80,331
Waterloo: $79,107
Edwardsville: $78,298
Fairview Heights: $70,825
Highland: $69,442
Belleville: $56,404
Granite City: $53,757
Alton: $45,225
East St. Louis: $26,011
Median household income in the St. Louis, Mo., area
Clayton: $117,593
Creve Coeur: $100,810
Richmond Heights: $95,972
St. Peters: $83,624
Brentwood: $81,692
Maryland Heights: $78,982
St. Charles: $75,516
University City: $66,830
Florissant: $58,516
Maplewood: $52,420
St. Louis City: $48,751
Ferguson: $40,195
Southwestern Illinois and St. Louis-area households must make incomes stretch further now, as the 12-month inflation rate reached 6.5% in December. The price of food has increased even more, with an 11.8% hike on groceries and an 8.3% increase for restaurant meals.
The price of electricity rose by 14.3% from December 2021 to December 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports, and several other essential categories have also seen sharp inflation.
Here’s how more prices have increased over the 12-month period:
Transportation services: 14.6%
Shelter: 7.5%
Medical care services: 4.1%
New vehicles: 5.9%
Apparel: 2.9%
This story was originally published February 21, 2023 at 12:49 PM.
