B+

Wadsworth, IL

Source:

Affordability Score: 75/100

Population: 9,838 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Wadsworth, IL aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 9,838 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of B+ (75/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $123,125, median home value of $323,200, median rent of $1,650 per month, and 43.8% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,781 per month (studio $1,480, 1BR $1,581, 3BR $2,294, 4BR $2,653). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $15,881 per year, consuming 13% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Strengths visible in the raw data for Wadsworth, IL include income, education, housing, rent. Unemployment currently reads 6.5% and poverty 4.7% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income A
$123,125
Median household income
Education B+
43.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing B+
2.6x
Home value $323,200 vs income
Commute F
29 min
Average commute time
Rent A-
$1,781/mo
2BR fair market rent (17% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare C+
$15,881/yr
Center-based infant care (13% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$123,125
▲ 99% vs national
Per Capita Income
$52,806
Unemployment Rate
6.5%
Poverty Rate
4.7%

Housing

Median Home Value
$323,200
▲ 18% vs national
Median Rent
$1,650/mo
Owner Occupied
92.5%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,781/mo
▲ 48% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,480
1BR
$1,581
2BR
$1,781
3BR
$2,294
4BR
$2,653

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
43.8%
▲ 14 ppt vs national
High School+
66.2%
Median Age
43.9
Avg. Commute
29 min
▲ 3 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$15,881/yr
13% of income
Toddler (Center)
$12,827/yr
Preschool (Center)
$12,263/yr
School-Age (Center)
$4,235/yr

What This Means

Wadsworth, IL receives an overall affordability grade of B+ (75/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 9,838. This area performs well in income and education and housing and rent. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Wadsworth, IL affordable?
Wadsworth, IL receives an overall affordability grade of B+ (75/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $123,125. Median home value is $323,200.
What is the cost of living in Wadsworth?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,650/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,781/mo. Infant childcare $15,881/yr. Median home value $323,200.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →