The Town FilesFairview Heights, Illinois
City in St. Clair County · population 16,706 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $177,700
- Household income
- $80,930
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 39
- Median age
- 41.0
Fairview Heights is a city of 16,706 people in St. Clair County, Illinois. The median home is worth $177,700, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 97% of Illinois towns, better for young professionals than 84% of Illinois towns, more vibrant than 83% of Illinois towns.
How Fairview Heights ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Fairview Heights is worth $177,700, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $80,930, which is more affordable than 50% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,174 a month. 69.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fairview Heights | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $177,700 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,174 | $960 |
| Median household income | $80,930 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 69.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Fairview Heights
| People | Fairview Heights | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.0 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.3% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.8% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 11.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.1% | — |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 22.0 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.7% | 90.4% |
Weather in Fairview Heights
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 24.1°F. About 40.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.7 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 46 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 98 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
39 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairview Heights since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 15 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on February 10, 1959 about 9.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 61 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 14, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 150 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on April 28, 2012.
Severe weather in St. Clair County since 1996
St. Clair County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 20, 2024 | Flood | DR-4819: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Floodng |
| October 14, 2022 | Flood | DR-4676: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in St. Clair County
St. Clair County had 89,981 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,001 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Fairview Heights itself the ACS puts it at 6.4%.
Public schools in Fairview Heights
4 public schools with 1,207 students, about 11.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Holliday Elem School | PK-5 | 410 | 12.4 |
| Illini Elem School | PK-4 | 334 | 11.9 |
| Grant Middle School | 5-8 | 245 | 9.4 |
| Pontiac Jr High School | 6-8 | 218 | 14.5 |
Towns near Fairview Heights
- Caseyville, IL2.8 mi · 4,400 people · home $96,800
- Swansea, IL3.2 mi · 14,386 people · home $223,600
- O'Fallon, IL4.8 mi · 32,289 people · home $295,700
- Washington Park, IL5.3 mi · 2,592 people · home $37,500
- Belleville, IL5.5 mi · 42,404 people · home $141,300
- Collinsville, IL5.7 mi · 24,366 people · home $163,600
- Shiloh, IL5.7 mi · 14,098 people · home $274,000
- East St. Louis, IL6.9 mi · 18,469 people · home $52,600
Fairview Heights questions
Is Fairview Heights, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fairview Heights scores better for retirees than 13% of Illinois towns and quieter than 23%. 19.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.0).
How much does a house cost in Fairview Heights?
The median owner-occupied home in Fairview Heights is valued at $177,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,930, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $1,174 a month.
What is the weather like in Fairview Heights?
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 24.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.8 inches of precipitation a year and 11.7 inches of snow.
Does Fairview Heights get tornadoes?
39 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairview Heights since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on February 10, 1959. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)