Granite City 65 Good
Granite City Livability #602 ranked city in Illinois#12,507 ranked city in the USARanks better than 57% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Granite City

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    The cost of living in this region is notably lower than the national average, encompassing everyday goods, housing, utilities, transportation and health care expenses.

  • Housing Housing

    High scores in the housing category are attributed to this area, possibly pointing to a favorable home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Ratings Ratings

    Locals express favorable opinions about the proximity of everyday local amenities, parks, public transit, neighborly atmosphere, strong sense of community and the general safety of the area.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    A large portion of amenities are not ideally situated within walking distance, potentially requiring residents to utilize a vehicle or public transportation.

  • Commute Commute

    Access to public transportation in this particular area may be limited, which can result in longer-than-average commute times to reach workplaces.

  • Crime Crime

    This area exhibits elevated crime rates per 100,000 residents, which may suggest it's a potentially unsafe place to reside. These rates encompass both property and violent crimes.

  • Schools Schools

    The lower than average schools score may be influenced by below-average education levels, subpar reading and math scores and the lack of access to local elementary and high schools.

What's it like Living in Granite City?

Granite City, Illinois is a medium-sized city with a population of 29,235 inhabitants. The majority of Granite City residents report their race to be White; this is followed by Black and Asian. Long travel times to work can be one of the most frustrating things in the world - right behind housework! If you decide that living in Granite City is the right fit for you, your one way commute time will average 23 minutes, which is about average when compared to the national commute time of 26 minutes.

Living in Granite City can be a great experience for anyone moving to the town. Having said that, in the state of Illinois, there are many desirable places to live, so choose wisely! When searching for a new neighborhood, several factors play a vital role in determining its suitability. Safety should be a top priority, ensuring a secure environment with low crime rates. Proximity to your workplace or school helps minimize commuting time and allows for a better work-life balance. Availability of essential amenities such as parks, coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities contributes to convenience and well-being. Access to reliable public transportation options facilitates easy commuting and connectivity. Additionally, considering the sense of community and the overall atmosphere that resonates with your lifestyle and preferences fosters a harmonious living experience. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like crime, cost of living, commute, health & safety, education, you can easily compare the best places to live in Granite City and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Granite City to Illinois and the national average.

With a livability score of 65 out of 100, Granite City is ranked #11,611 in the United States and #564 in Illinois. Based on the scores for each individual category, Granite City has received high marks for housing (A+). The bad news for Granite City, there are some categories for which it does not score well, this includes: amenities (F), crime (F) and education (F).

For home buyers, real estate will be the largest purchase they will ever make and it will also be their most valuable asset. For renters, the monthly rent paid on their Granite City apartments will most likely be their largest expense. Based on tangible metrics like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates, housing in this area has received a score that is well above the average of every other US city. A thriving real estate market can also generate strong local economic activity and job creation.

There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in Granite City is actually affordable. The median home price for Granite City homes is $150,013, which is 51.4% lower than the Illinois average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Granite City, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 1.9, which is 45.7% lower than the Illinois average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Granite City

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How Do You Rate The Livability In Granite City?

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Compare Granite City, IL Livability

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      Granite City transportation information

      Statistic Granite City Illinois National
      Average one way commute23min29min26min
      Workers who drive to work83.4%73.4%76.4%
      Workers who carpool9.5%8.3%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit2.7%9.2%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.6%0.6%
      Workers who walk0.5%3.1%2.8%
      Working from home3.2%4.4%4.6%
      Source: The Granite City, IL data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.