Vandalia 71 Excellent
Vandalia Livability #334 ranked city in Illinois#6,902 ranked city in the USARanks better than 76% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Vandalia

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Everyday cost of living expenses like goods and services, housing, groceries, transportation, health care and utilities are far below the national average.

  • Crime Crime

    This area boasts a crime rate that is far below the national average, making it a very safe place to live. These crime statistics encompass both property and violent offenses.

  • Housing Housing

    Impressive scores in the housing category characterize this area, potentially attributed to the availability of affordable housing, strong appreciation rates and high home values.

  • Ratings Ratings

    According to recent surveys and polls, locals had excellent ratings for walkability to nearby amenities, safety, access to public transit and the overall sense of community in the area.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    The majority of amenities will be difficult to reach within a short walk, often requiring residents to use a vehicle or public transportation for access.

  • Commute Commute

    Low commute scores could be due to limited access to public transit in this area, as well as longer-than-average work commute times for residents.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Subpar air quality and the limited availability of certain health-related facilities such as hospitals, police stations, doctors and pharmacies may have contributed to the low score in this category.

  • Schools Schools

    The low schools score might be a result of factors like lower than average education levels, lackluster reading and math scores and the inaccessibility of local elementary and high schools.

What's it like Living in Vandalia?

Vandalia is a smaller city located in the state of Illinois. The city has a population of 6,854 people. The majority of Vandalia residents report their race to be White; this is followed by Black and Asian. All the single ladies and all the single fellas might want to take notice as only 44% of the Vandalia population is married. If you are not a fan of long commutes, you will enjoy living in Vandalia. With an average one way commute time of only 19 minutes, getting to and from work is a breeze compared to the national average of 26 minutes.

Living in Vandalia can be a good experience for anyone moving to the area. Having said that, in the state of Illinois, there are many amazing 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. With useful information like cost of living, commute, health & safety, education and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Vandalia and in the areas around Vandalia is a much easier task.

Vandalia has a livability score of 71/100 and is ranked #309 in Illinois and #6,145 in the USA. For each of the livability categories, we can establish that Vandalia ranks very well for crime (A+) and housing (A-). There is at least one category that does not have great scores in Vandalia. The following was graded with a concerning score: amenities (F), education (D-) and employment (D-).

Striving for a cost-effective lifestyle becomes increasingly essential, especially in light of the ongoing upward trajectory of everyday goods and services. In Vandalia, residents enjoy the privilege of a cost of living that is 20.02% below the national average. This favorable positioning extends its influence across a broad spectrum of expenses, encompassing not only goods and services but also housing costs, groceries and healthcare costs. Consequently, this locale emerges as a hub where your financial resources go further, allowing you to maintain an economical and sustainable way of life. This affordability becomes increasingly significant in an era marked by escalating expenses, rendering Vandalia an appealing destination for those in pursuit of financial prudence without sacrificing their quality of life.

Low rates of violent crime, encompassing offenses such as murder, rape, robbery and assault, contribute significantly to a safer living environment. This reduction in crime minimizes the chances of personal harm, property theft, or violent incidents. Furthermore, low crime rates can have a positive impact on property values and the overall desirability of an area. There were 41 crimes per 100,000 residents, which signifies that Vandalia boasts an impressively low violent crime rate that falls well below the national average.

Unemployment rates can range pretty dramatically from one city to another. Knowing that Vandalia has an unemployment rate of 1.7% could mean increased job opportunities with a higher demand for workers. It could also lead to higher wages, as the demand for workers exceeds the availability of jobs. Most importantly, it could be a sign of a healthy and thriving local economy.

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 Vandalia 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.

Assuming that Vandalia meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Vandalia. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Vandalia are simply unattainable. The median home price for Vandalia homes is $144,383, which is 53.2% lower than the Illinois average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Vandalia, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 2.7, which is 22.9% lower than the Illinois average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Vandalia

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      Vandalia transportation information

      Statistic Vandalia Illinois National
      Average one way commute19min29min26min
      Workers who drive to work82.0%73.4%76.4%
      Workers who carpool11.9%8.3%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.8%9.2%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.6%0.6%
      Workers who walk2.6%3.1%2.8%
      Working from home2.6%4.4%4.6%
      Source: The Vandalia, 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.