Alton vs Granite City
Alton, Illinois versus Granite City, Illinois: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Alton edges out Granite City on overall objective livability (44 vs 40 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Alton | Granite City |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $49k | $59k |
| Cost of Living | $46k | $42k |
| Home Value | $94k | $96k |
| Monthly Rent | $908 | $785 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.83% | 2.03% |
| Income Tax | 5.00% | 5.00% |
| Sales Tax | 8.86% | 8.86% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 11.38% | 11.24% |
| Unemployment | 6.6% | 8.0% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 32°F | 32°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 79°F | 79°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.9 in | 45.1 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.8 in | 10.8 in |
| Sunny Days | 217 days | 217 days |
| Summer Humidity | 69°F | 69°F |
| Comfortable Days | 69 days | 69 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 53.9 | 76.7 |
| Air Quality | 51 AQI | 57 AQI |
| School Quality | 62.3 | 44.5 |
| Violent Crime | 3054/100k | 2501/100k |
| Property Crime | 3125/100k | 7321/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 25,642 | 27,026 |
| Median Age | 38.3 | 38.8 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.49 | 0.32 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.91 | 1.01 |
| Political Leaning | R+14 | D+67 |
| White (%) | 65.2% | 78.4% |
| Black (%) | 24.6% | 11.1% |
| Hispanic (%) | 2.5% | 5.6% |
| Asian (%) | 0.9% | 0.6% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 6.8% | 4.3% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 23 min | 23 min |
| Walkability | 8.9/20 | 8.0/20 |
| Airport Distance | 16 mi | 13 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 85.6% | 82.8% |
| Amenities Nearby | 54.99 | 15.91 |
| Park & Nature Access | Excellent | Excellent |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Alton or Granite City more affordable?
- Granite City has the lower cost of living: its index is $42k, compared with Alton's $46k and Granite City's $42k. Median rent is $908 in Alton versus $785 in Granite City.
- Is Alton or Granite City safer?
- Granite City has the lower violent crime rate. Alton reports 3054/100k and Granite City reports 2501/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Alton or Granite City?
- The median home value is $94k in Alton and $96k in Granite City, so homes are more affordable in Alton.