The Town FilesEast St. Louis, Illinois
City in St. Clair County · population 18,469 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $52,600
- Household income
- $35,700
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 44
- Median age
- 44.3
East St. Louis is a city of 18,469 people in St. Clair County, Illinois. The median home is worth $52,600, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better transit than 88% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 86% of Illinois towns, hipper than 80% of Illinois towns.
How East St. Louis ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in East St. Louis is worth $52,600, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $35,700, which is more affordable than 90% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $847 a month. 60.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | East St. Louis | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $52,600 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $847 | $960 |
| Median household income | $35,700 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 60.7% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in East St. Louis
| People | East St. Louis | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.3 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.1% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 32.8% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 23.3 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.7% | 90.4% |
Weather in East St. Louis
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 24.1°F. About 40.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.8 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 46 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 98 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
44 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of East St. Louis since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 18 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 22, 2011 about 9.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 22 deaths and 293 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 193 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 25, 2011.
Severe weather in St. Clair County since 1996
St. Clair County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 20, 2024 | Flood | DR-4819: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Floodng |
| October 14, 2022 | Flood | DR-4676: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in St. Clair County
St. Clair County had 89,981 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,001 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in East St. Louis itself the ACS puts it at 17.3%.
Public schools in East St. Louis
5 public schools with 1,224 students, about 10.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| East St Louis-Lincoln Middle Sch | 5-8 | 400 | 8.2 |
| Vivian Adams Early Child Ctr | PK-PK | 376 | 15.7 |
| Annette Officer Elementary | K-4 | 331 | 11.8 |
| SIU Charter Sch of East St Louis (charter) | 9-12 | 117 | 19.5 |
| Gordon Bush Alt Sch for Education | 5-12 | — | — |
Towns near East St. Louis
- Washington Park, IL2.2 mi · 2,592 people · home $37,500
- Madison, IL5.1 mi · 3,171 people · home $58,900
- Caseyville, IL5.3 mi · 4,400 people · home $96,800
- St. Louis, MO6.3 mi · 301,578 people · home $197,500
- Fairview Heights, IL6.9 mi · 16,706 people · home $177,700
- Granite City, IL7.8 mi · 27,549 people · home $104,300
- Collinsville, IL7.9 mi · 24,366 people · home $163,600
- Pontoon Beach, IL8.2 mi · 5,876 people · home $145,100
East St. Louis questions
Is East St. Louis, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, East St. Louis scores better for retirees than 17% of Illinois towns and quieter than 40%. 23.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.3).
How much does a house cost in East St. Louis?
The median owner-occupied home in East St. Louis is valued at $52,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $35,700, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $847 a month.
What is the weather like in East St. Louis?
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 24.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.8 inches of precipitation a year and 13.8 inches of snow.
Does East St. Louis get tornadoes?
44 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of East St. Louis since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on April 22, 2011. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)