Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Home to Principia College.
Elsah’s average trip to work is 11 minutes, below both the Illinois town median (26 minutes) and the median of U.S. towns (25 minutes). Of the 769 Illinois towns we compare, none has a lower median age than Elsah. 32% of the land in Elsah is conserved, above both the Illinois town median (3.7%) and the median of U.S. towns (4.3%). Elsah is home to Principia College. Elsah has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where Elsah beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 250 in 1880, a low of 137 in 1930, 519 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1895 and 6 maps from 1927 on.
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Elsah, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
Ordered by what stands out in Elsah.
The trail density in Elsah is 2.6 miles per square mile. 2.9 miles of trail in 0 parks and preserves.
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
0.4% of Elsah working residents work locally. Since 2013, Elsah has lost 290 jobs, to 3 in 2023. 25% of Elsah residents live below the poverty line.
| Elsah | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 25% | 8.4% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 0.4% | 8.3% | 8% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 76% of U.S. communities. Since 1979, 54 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Elsah.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Elsah has chilly winters and warm summers. Elsah’s July high is 88°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Elsah beats the Illinois average on 15 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 7. 4.8% of adults have diabetes in Elsah. Of the 768 Illinois towns we compare, none has a lower share of adults who have high blood pressure than Elsah.
| Elsah | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 4.8% | 11% | 12% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 24% | 18% | 16% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 35% | 35% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 43% | 33% | 33% |
| What stands out | Elsah | IL |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults with diabetes | 4.8% | 11.7% |
| Fewer adults who have had a stroke | 1.4% | 3.3% |
| More adults in frequent mental distress | 21.7% | 15.6% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Elsah. Close and well known come first.
Big draw26 mi State parkCahokia
Big draw24 mi Stadium & arenaThe Dome at America's Center
9 mi Ancient sitePiasa
25 mi Stadium & arenaBusch Stadium
24 mi National ParkGateway Arch National Park2.2M visitors a year
35 mi Theme parkMid America AdventureCahokia: Thank You (24 Millions ) views, CC BY 2.0 · The Dome at America's Center: Paul Sableman, CC BY 2.0 · Piasa: Burfalcy, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Busch Stadium: Lee Ann Ratledge, CC BY 4.0 · Gateway Arch National Park: Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Mid America Adventure: Chris Hagerman from New Port Richey, FL, US, CC BY 2.0
3 within 15 miles of the center of Elsah
College town 90 of every 100 Elsah residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Illinois.
2 places in Elsah on the National Register of Historic Places.
Village in Illinois, United States
Elsah is a village in Jersey County, Illinois. As of the 2020 census, the village had a total population of 519. Elsah is a part of the Metro-East region and the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Elsah has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real. Home to Principia College.
.jpg){kind=link}
