Olney 72 Excellent
Olney Livability #300 ranked city in Illinois#5,937 ranked city in the USARanks better than 79% of areas
Is This the Right Place for You? Local Insights Report
  • Uncover the key details before you move
  • Use local data to guide a smarter investment
  • Compare neighborhoods side by side
Local Insights Report

Pros and Cons of Living in Olney

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Taking into account the cost of goods and services like housing, groceries, transportation and utilities, the overall cost of living in this area is well below average.

  • Crime Crime

    Crime per 100,000 people is significantly lower than the national average, making it a safe place to live. These crime statistics include both violent and property crimes.

  • Housing Housing

    High scores in the housing category are a distinguishing feature of this area, possibly driven by a favorable home affordability ratio, higher home values and appreciation rates.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Good air quality as well as nearby health facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, fire and police stations all contribute to a higher than average health and safety score.

CONS
  • Commute Commute

    A low commute score could be due to longer-than-average work commutes and the limited availability of public transportation in this area.

  • Schools Schools

    The low schools score could result from issues like below-average graduation rates, inadequate reading and math scores, and the unavailability of local elementary and high schools.

  • Ratings Ratings

    AreaVibes collected feedback from local residents in the area through surveys and polls, and the results did not show a favorable view of things like local amenities and the safety of the area.

What's it like Living in Olney?

Olney is a small-sized city located in the state of Illinois. The city has a population of 9,196 inhabitants. The majority of Olney residents report their race to be White; this is followed by Black and Asian. Olney is not known to have a high population (over 15 years old) of married people. At only 50% married, this city falls well below the national average. If you are not a fan of long commutes, you will enjoy living in Olney. With an average one way commute time of only 20 minutes, getting to and from work is a breeze compared to the national average of 26 minutes.

If you’re considering moving to any new city, it could be a very intimidating task. However, it could also be a great experience if you are willing to get to know the town before actually living in Olney, Illinois. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is of utmost importance, ensuring a secure environment with low crime. Proximity to your workplace or school helps reduce commuting time and offers convenience. Access to amenities such as parks, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities enhances your daily life. Public transportation options contribute to easy mobility. A sense of community fosters a supportive and engaging environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere should align with your desired lifestyle, ensuring a fulfilling living experience. Considering these items will guide you towards finding the perfect neighborhood that fits all your needs. With useful information like crime, commute, health & safety, housing and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Olney and in the areas around Olney is a much easier task.

The livability score in Olney is 71/100 and the city is ranked in the 79th percentile of all cities across America. If we consider each of the categories individually, we see that Olney ranks well for crime (B), cost of living (A+) and housing (A+). There are some categories that Olney ranks poorly for, including: education (F) and employment (D). It might be worth taking a closer look to find out why.

Real estate represents the most substantial investment for homebuyers, constituting their most valuable asset. Renters, on the other hand, typically see their monthly rent as their most significant expense. The Olney market earns a high score in the housing category, surpassing the national average in factors like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates. This robust real estate market not only benefits individual homeowners and renters but also spurs vigorous local economic activity and job growth, solidifying its significance in driving the region's prosperity and financial well-being.

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 Olney is actually affordable. The median home price for Olney homes is $146,451, which is 52.5% lower than the Illinois average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Olney, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 2, which is 42.9% lower than the Illinois average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Olney

See all the best places to live around Olney

How Do You Rate The Livability In Olney?

1. Select a livability score between 1-100
0
Awful
25
Poor
50
Average
75
Good
100
Great
2. Select any tags that apply to this area
View results

Compare Olney, IL Livability

City Image
    City Default Image
      vs
      Compare Neighborhoods & Addresses Local Insights Report

      Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.

      Local Insights Report

      Olney transportation information

      Statistic Olney Illinois National
      Average one way commute20min29min26min
      Workers who drive to work81.2%73.4%76.4%
      Workers who carpool10.4%8.3%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.5%9.2%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.2%0.6%0.6%
      Workers who walk2.1%3.1%2.8%
      Working from home5.1%4.4%4.6%
      Source: The Olney, 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.