Salem Baptist Church · National Register of Historic Places
Foster Township’s story
Foster Township in pictures
The archive holds 7 maps from 1927 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Explore the history →Foster TownshipIL
A town of 3,871.
7 bordering townsMap →
Salem Baptist Church · Photo: Nyttend · Public domain
Population
3,871
2025 Census estimate · −0.5% since 2020
Median home value
$235K
Census ACS
Household income
$111K
median
Median age
53.4
years
Jobs based here
428
A commuter town
TownGrade
D
#752 of 767 in IL
Is Foster Township a good place to live?
Foster Township earns a D, 752nd among Illinois's 767 graded towns, mostly because of schools. Its public schools trail 89% of Illinois towns on state tests and graduation. What it does well: the median household earns $111K. Only 50 of Illinois’ 1,284 towns score lower on walkability. Salem Baptist Church is on the National Register of Historic Places. Only 92 of Illinois’ 1,285 towns score lower on the outdoors.
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Foster Township for work
Where Foster Township’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
428jobs based in Foster Township
1%of working residents work in town
17 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Foster Township grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Illinois), ordered by how far Foster Township is from typical.
WalkabilityEPA walkability 4.1 of 20; 0.1% of workers walk, bike or ride transitDOpen →SchoolsDOpen →Cost of livingTypical home $235K, 2.9 years of the St. Louis metro’s $80K median household incomeCOpen →HealthAlton Memorial Hospital 5.7 miles awayCOpen →Jobs & incomeBOpen →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors0% conserved landDOpen →History1 place on the National RegisterBOpen →Civic life0.1 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Foster Township: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Foster Township, and how to reach them.
PowerAmeren Illinois Company16.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterFosterburg Pwd water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers92% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Foster Township’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Illinois you can register online until 16 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 28 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereMadison County ClerkMadison County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP codes62002, 62010, 62035, 6201262002 62% · 62010 29% · 62035 6% · 62012 2%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Foster Township.
Foster Township sends many workers across the state line to St. Louis, but it trails even towns with similar incomes on health.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B
Foster Township sends most of its workers out of town
23% of working residents cross a state line to work, St. Louis among the top destinations. Foster Township has 428 jobs for its 1,873 working residents: even if every job went to a resident, most would still commute out.
For most workers, Foster Township is a place to come home to: only 1% work in town. Jobs in Foster Township grew by 142 from 2013 to 2023, reaching 428. Half commute less than 17 miles. The top destinations are Alton (15%), St. Louis (7%) and Edwardsville (6%).
1%work in town
| Foster Township | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $111,000 | $83,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 1.4% | 8.4% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.4% | 8.4% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 27 minutes | 26 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Foster Township1%
Alton15%
St. Louis7%
Edwardsville6%
Godfrey5%
17 mi
median commute distance
428
jobs based in Foster Township
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
D
Walkability grade: more walkable than 6% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HealthC
Health in Foster Township trails 66% of U.S. towns
Against the 7,047 U.S. towns with household incomes like Foster Township’s, it is less healthy than 93%, so it trails even them.
The share of adults in Foster Township who report frequent physical distress: 15%. Of 32 CDC measures, Foster Township beats the Illinois average on 1 and trails it on 13. 39% of adults have high blood pressure locally, above both the Illinois town median (35%) and the median of U.S. towns (35%).
34%healthier than U.S. townsCHealth Grade
| Foster Township | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 37% | 35% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 35% | 35% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 13% | 14% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 17% | 17% |
32 measures vs. Illinois
1 better18 too close to call13 worse
| What stands out | Foster Township | IL |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 8.1% | 9.9% |
| More adults with COPD | 8.7% | 6.3% |
Alton Memorial Hospital
5.7 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
20th
percentile among IL towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
Foster Township has four seasons and pleasant summers
Foster Township’s July high comes in at 87°F.
11″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter25–41°
Spring45–66°
Summer66–86°
Fall47–67°
Nov 5
typical first frost
Apr 4
typical last frost
+0.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
In Foster Township, the median age runs higher than in the typical Illinois or U.S. town
For adults 25 and older in Foster Township, the share who hold a bachelor’s degree or more is 34%. Nearly a fifth of residents are under 18 here, where Illinois’ towns sit at 22% and U.S. towns at 22%. Also worth knowing: people 65 and older are 25% of residents (17% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 15% of residents (23% statewide).
53.4median age · IL 39
| Foster Township | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.4 years | 40.7 years | 40.5 years |
| Aged 65 or older | 25% | 19% | 18% |
| Under 18 | 19% | 22% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 34% | 29% | 29% |
Foster TownshipIllinoisUnited States
Ages · share of residents
23%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma2%
High school30%
Some college26%
Associate’s8%
Bachelor’s22%
Graduate13%
Women and men · all residents
47% women, 53% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±3.6 points. Across Illinois, 50.6% of residents are women.
| Foster Township | IL | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 10.8% | 11.5% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 8.3% | 10.4% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 4.9% | 9.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 10.2% | 13.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 7.9% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 10.1% | 12.4% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 23.1% | 12.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 15% | 10% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 9.6% | 7% | 7% |
| No diploma | 1.9% | 9.5% | 10.4% |
| High school | 29.6% | 25.1% | 26% |
| Some college | 26% | 19.2% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 8.3% | 8.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 21.6% | 22.6% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 12.6% | 15.3% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 3,900, single groups can be off by several points
OutdoorsD
Open space protected for good: 0.2% of Foster Township
In Foster Township, the concentration of trails is 0.1 miles per square mile. Trails total 4.0 miles in 1 park or preserve. Parks and preserves locally: one, of 2 acres.
#498for trails in IL
| Foster Township | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 0.2% | 3.7% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.1 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
0.2%
conserved · 40 of 19,648 acres
4.0 mi
of trails · 0.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Fosterburg Park | — | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C+
Foster Township has a moderate natural-hazard risk, chiefly from inland flooding
Paid flood insurance claims in Foster Township since 1979: 28. Compared with 53% of U.S. communities, expected storm and flood damage here is higher. Expected losses in Foster Township break down as 33% from inland flooding and 19% from earthquakes.
53risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingEarthquakesTornadoes
28
paid flood claims since 1979
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Nearby attractions
All 58 attractions →Cahokia and 52 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Foster Township. Close and well known come first.
Big draw22 mi State parkCahokia
Big draw24 mi Stadium & arenaThe Dome at America's Center
7 mi Ancient sitePiasa
24 mi Stadium & arenaBusch Stadium
24 mi National ParkGateway Arch National Park2.2M visitors a year
21 mi LandmarkMonks MoundSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Cahokia: 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 · Monks Mound: Skubasteve834, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Keep exploring
Everything we know about Foster Township
18pages on Foster Township
The big questions
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
3 within 15 miles of the center of Foster Township
Lewis and Clark Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Godfrey5 mi$4,340 in-state tuitionSouthern Illinois University EdwardsvilleUniversity or college · Public · Edwardsville13.2 mi$12,922 in-state tuitionPrincipia CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Elsah13.3 mi$34,680 tuition
About 4 of every 100 Foster Township residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Illinois.
About Foster Township
Township in Illinois, United States
Foster Township is located in Madison County, Illinois, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 4,091 and it contained 1,663 housing units.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 31 sq mi
- Elevation
- 548 ft
Foster Township’s neighbors
7 towns share a border with Foster Township.
All 6 graded towns on its borders grade higher than its D; Alton (D) is closest.
GodfreyAltonAlton TownshipWood River TownshipBrighton TownshipBethaltoMoro TownshipFoster Township
How the neighbors grade
| Town | IL rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foster Township | #752 | D | C | — | D | C |
| Godfrey | #530 | C+ | B | — | D | B+ |
| Alton · Alton Township | #734 | D | B+ | D | D | D |
| Wood River Township | #355 | B+ | A | — | B | C+ |
| Brighton Township | #216 | A− | A− | — | B | B |
| Bethalto | #195 | A− | A− | B+ | B+ | B |
| Moro Township | #431 | B | C | — | A− | B+ |
Foster Township, Godfrey, Wood River Township, Brighton Township and Moro Township report no FBI crime data of their own. Alton Township and Alton are one community, graded once. Compare Foster Township with a neighbor →
Questions about Foster Township
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Foster Township, IL a good place to live?
Foster Township grades D overall, better than 5% of U.S. towns and #752 of 767 in Illinois. It grades C for health and D for schools. Walkability is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Foster Township, IL expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.