CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

38.57° N · 90.16° W · GEOID 1710373

Cahokia Heights

Monroe County, Illinois · part of the St. Louis, MO metro

IllinoisCahokia Heights, ILCahokia HeightsCahokia Heights

The short answer

Cahokia Heights is home to 17,106 people. Median household income is $33,792 a year and median rent is $981 a month, 34.8% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). That is above the usual 30% line for cost burden. The median home is valued at $56,000, about 1.7x annual median household income.

What sets Cahokia Heights apart is how tight household budgets are. After the median rent, with other prices set to the US average, the median household keeps about $22,400 a year, less than in 99% of places its size. It is the lowest of 284 Illinois places we track. Also notable: Home value growth is 2.7% a year, against 10.7% a year in its closest peers.

10OF 100

CTXCitytistics Index

Weak

Cahokia Heights scores better than 10% of the 6,612 places we rate, and ranks 326th of 335 in Illinois.

How the CTX is built

Category ratings · 0 to 100, typical place 50

Affordability 20%50
Economy 20%3
Safety 20%n/a
Amenities 15%62
Education 10%6
Commute 10%41
Growth 5%17

Not rated: safety, for want of data (the city police department does not report a full year to the FBI). The other weights are spread over the categories rated.

Median gross rent
$981
28% below the median place
Median household income
$33,792
58% below the median place
Median home value
$56,000
82% below the median place
Unemployment
10.0%
104% above the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about Cahokia Heights

  • AffordabilityThe median rent takes 34.8% of the median household's income, a bigger share than in 98% of the 2,301 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track.
  • HousingThe median home costs 1.7 years of the median household's income, fewer than in 99% of the 2,301 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track.
01

Moving to Cahokia Heights

Monroe County gains about 0.2 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in1,208
Moved out1,201
Net+7

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Within Illinois, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within IllinoisOther states

Income per tax return

Arrivals$77K
Leavers$70K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Monroe County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
5.7% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 2.7% from another state.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Monroe County report $77,100 a year in income on average; those leaving, $69,800, so newcomers earn more than leavers.
Income you would need
$39,200 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $981 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $1,040 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $56,000.
Getting to work
26 minutes each way on average; 8.5% work from home; 1.3% take transit.
If it is close but not quite
Carthage, MO matches it on character for less of your income. Compare the two
Moved from another state1
2.7%
38% above the median place
Moved here in the past year1
5.7%
1% below the median place
Income of households moving in8
$77,134
9% above the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasureCahokia HeightsAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year15.7%1% below
Moved from another state12.7%38% above
Net movers per 1,000 people8County figure0.2above (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in8County figure$77,1349% above
Income of households moving out8County figure$69,8011% below
02

What it costs to live here

Home values are about 46% lower than we would expect for a place with these incomes, education levels, housing age and household types in the same metro area. That can mean good value, or drawbacks these figures do not capture, such as crime, schools or location.

Cahokia Heights34.8%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$39,240
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
34.8%
71% above the median place
Home price to income
1.7x
56% below the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
35%
over the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$22,600
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Cahokia Heights, $981 a month, and local prices for everything else (98.4 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Cahokia Heights, but easier on the budget

Places that match Cahokia Heights on character (size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, remote work and climate) but where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income. Cost was left out of the match on purpose.

PlaceMatchRent to incomeMore left a year
Carthage, MO9522.8% vs 34.8%$20,600Compare
Monett, MO9521.9% vs 34.8%n/aCompare
Burley, ID9417.5% vs 34.8%n/aCompare
Fort Morgan, CO9420.0% vs 34.8%n/aCompare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Cahokia Heights.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Cahokia Heights? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Median home value1
$56,000
82% below the median place
Vacant homes1
28.5%
304% above the median place
Owner costs with a mortgage1
$1,040
44% below the median place
All 16 cost and housing measures
MeasureCahokia HeightsAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$98128% below
Rent to income134.8%71% above
Property tax rate12.4%164% above
Home price to income11.7x56% below
Prices vs US average2Metro figure95.16% below
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$1,34916% below
HUD area median income4County figure$113,5006% above
Property tax paid (median)1$1,34659% below
Median home value1$56,00082% below
Home prices, 1-year change5County figure6.5%105% above
Home prices, 5-year change5County figure49.4%4% below
Homeownership152.2%21% below
Renters paying 30%+167.2%33% above
Owner costs with a mortgage1$1,04044% below
Vacant homes128.5%304% above
Median year built119641% below
03

Work and pay

Median household income is $33,792, 58% below the median place.

Median household income1
$33,792
58% below the median place
Poverty rate1
34.1%
217% above the median place
Income per person1
$20,124
50% below the median place

More on work and pay, against the typical place

Unemployment10.0% 2.0×
Works from home8.5% −32%
Mean commute26 min +6%
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureCahokia HeightsAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$33,79258% below
Income per person1$20,12450% below
Unemployment110.0%104% above
Average annual pay6County figure$51,69422% below
Pay growth, 1 year6County figure6.1%65% above
Jobs6County figure8,57794% below
Poverty rate134.1%217% above
Mean commute126 min6% above
Works from home18.5%32% below
Commutes by transit1Metro figure1.3%56% above
04

Who lives here

Population change since 2020 is -5.6%, below the median place (median 1.1%).

Population change since 20207
-5.6%
below the median place (median 1.1%)
Median age1
30.3
22% below the median place
Bachelor's or higher1
13.5%
58% below the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

Homes with broadband84.4% −9%
High school or higher85.5% −7%
Household size2.8 +12%
No health insurance8.7% +36%
All 9 people measures
MeasureCahokia HeightsAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population117,1062678th largest
Population change since 20207-5.6%below (median 1.1%)
Median age130.322% below
Bachelor's or higher113.5%58% below
High school or higher185.5%7% below
Household size12.812% above
Born abroad1County figure1.2%86% below
No health insurance18.7%36% above
Homes with broadband184.4%9% below
05

Life in Cahokia Heights

The nearest National Park Service site is Gateway Arch National Park, about 4 miles away.

6 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places. Its history on Wikipedia

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents9.3 −8%
Playgrounds per 10k8.2 −13%
Grocery stores per 10k2.3 +10%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k7.0 −37%
Libraries per 10k1.2 +34%
Named paths and bike trails14 km 6.8×
Bus and rail stops per sq mi11.8 56.0×

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

National Park Service sites nearby

  • Gateway Arch National Park 4 miles
  • Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site 9 miles
  • Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park 41 miles

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars22.5 +8%
Shops28.0 −8%
Arts, recreation and fitness6.9 +68%
Doctors' offices and clinics20.8 +3%
Child care centers3.4 +48%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Nearest National Park Service site11
4.1
87% below the median place
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k9
6.9
68% above the median place
Child care centers per 10k9
3.4
48% above the median place
All 18 schools and local life measures
MeasureCahokia HeightsAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools13County figure1456% above
Public school students13County figure5,0062% above
Students per teacher13County figure15.51% above
Restaurants and bars per 10k9County figure22.58% above
Shops per 10k9County figure28.08% below
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k9County figure6.968% above
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k9County figure20.83% above
Child care centers per 10k9County figure3.448% above
Parks per 10k109.38% below
Playgrounds per 10k108.213% below
Grocery stores per 10k102.310% above
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k107.037% below
Libraries per 10k101.234% above
Named paths and bike trails1013.7above (median 2.0)
Transit stops per sq mi1011.8above (median 0.2)
Nearest National Park Service site114.187% below
National Park Service sites within 60 miles11350% above
National Register listings12County figure654% below
06

Safety, weather and risk

Wildfire risk is 1.9, 97% below the median place.

No crime figure yet. Either the city police department did not report to the FBI for the latest year, or our monthly fetch has not reached Cahokia Heights. Larger places are fetched first.

Wildfire risk15
1.9
97% below the median place
Natural hazard risk15
41.9
55% below the median place
Good air days16
31.2%
54% below the median place
All 11 weather and risk measures
MeasureCahokia HeightsAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high14County figure89°F2% above
January average low14County figure24°F6% below
Average temperature14County figure57°F3% above
Annual precipitation14County figure43.0 in2% below
Natural hazard risk15County figure41.955% below
Hurricane risk15County figure17.076% below
Tornado risk15County figure58.328% below
Wildfire risk15County figure1.997% below
Heat wave risk15County figure87.63% below
Median air quality index16Metro figure5630% above
Good air days16Metro figure31.2%54% below
08

Cahokia Heights in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 35% of the median income in 2030, about the same as 35% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases. On projected 2030 affordability, Cahokia Heights does better than 50% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 1%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$981/mo (2024)$1,240/mo$1,020 to $1,510/mo+4.0%
Median household income$33,792 (2024)$43,000$36,000 to $50,500+4.0%
Median home value$56,000 (2024)$76,000$55,000 to $104,000+5.2%
Population16,874 (2025)16,53015,860 to 17,240−0.4%

The median home would be worth 1.8 years of the median income in 2030, against 1.7 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Cahokia Heights

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
Cedartown, GA$896$34,754Compare
Melvindale, MI$1,110$42,185Compare
Canutillo, TX$838$40,682Compare
Springfield, MI$864$44,808Compare
Springfield, MICanutillo, TXMelvindale, MICedartown, GACahokia Heights, ILCahokia HeightsCedartownMelvindaleCanutilloSpringfieldCahokia HeightsCedartownMelvindaleCanutilloSpringfield

Places built like Cahokia Heights

Its statistical peers: the closest matches on size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, origin and remote work, in the same part of the country. Cost and outcomes are left out of the match, so the table shows how Cahokia Heights performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
Cahokia Heights, IL34.8%5.3%/yr-5.6%
Zion, IL22.6%4.1%/yr-1.3%Compare
Frankfort, IN18.8%6.9%/yr-0.3%Compare
Chicago Heights, IL22.7%1.8%/yr-3.5%Compare
Forest Park, OH20.6%6.4%/yr-0.7%Compare
Sturgis, MI15.8%8.5%/yr-2.1%Compare
Riverdale, IL37.1%2.2%/yr-3.6%Compare

Common questions

Is Cahokia Heights a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Its Citytistics Index is 10 out of 100, better than 10% of the places we rate and 326th of 335 in Illinois. The median rent takes 34.8% of the median household's income, a bigger share than in 98% of the 2,301 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track. The median home costs 1.7 years of the median household's income, fewer than in 99% of the 2,301 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track. On cost, space and class size it scores 28 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Cahokia Heights expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 34.8% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a heavier load here than usual. The median home is valued at $56,000.

What salary do you need to live in Cahokia Heights?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $39,240 a year. Work it out from your current city.

What places are similar to Cahokia Heights?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Cedartown, GA, Melvindale, MI, Canutillo, TX and Springfield, MI.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. Income Limits · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2026
  5. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  6. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  7. Population Estimates · US Census Bureau · Vintage 2025
  8. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  9. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  10. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  11. National Park Service sites · Wikidata (CC0), units operated by the National Park Service · Retrieved 2026-11
  12. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  13. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  14. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  15. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  16. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Cahokia Heights with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Cahokia Heights itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/cahokia-heights-illinois

Citytistics. “Cahokia Heights, Illinois.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/cahokia-heights-illinois/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.