Broadway Street in, 2017
Hamilton’s story
174 years in pictures
Census counts: 1,025 in 1880, 2,753 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2010 and 3 maps from 1964 on.
- 1852Hamilton is settled
HamiltonIL
3 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Barry Gilfry from Cornpatch, Iowa · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
2,624
2025 Census estimate · −4.9% since 2020
Typical home
$118K
−0.6% in a year
Household income
$57K
median
Median age
39.9
years
Jobs based here
460
A commuter town
TownGrade
C+
#548 of 767 in IL
Is Hamilton a good place to live?
Hamilton is a solid, middle-of-the-road choice. It grades C+ overall, 548th of 767 graded towns in Illinois, with no subject far below average. Its best mark is schools: its schools outperform 66% of the state's. Its lowest everyday mark is in incomes: the median household income is $57K, and 14% of residents live below the poverty line. A typical home there costs about $118K, 1.8 years of the county’s $66K median household income. 13% of the land in Hamilton is conserved, against 3.6% in Illinois’ towns and 4.3% across U.S. towns. Only 125 of Illinois’ 1,285 towns score higher on the outdoors. Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than 84% of U.S. towns.
What makes Hamilton stand out
Where Hamilton beats most towns.
A commuter town
88% of working residents leave Hamilton for work
Where Hamilton’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
460jobs based in Hamilton
12%of working residents work in town
11 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Hamilton grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Illinois), ordered by how far Hamilton is from typical.
WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.2 of 20; 8.9% of households have no car; 0% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC−Open →Jobs & income460 jobs based hereCOpen →SchoolsB+Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listCOpen →Cost of livingBOpen →HealthMemorial Hospital 13.2 miles awayB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1 mile of trailAOpen →History3 notable people born hereA−Open →Civic life1.5 library visits per resident; 3.7 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsBOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 39.9; 24% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Hamilton: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Hamilton, and how to reach them.
PowerAmeren Illinois Company16.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterHamilton water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Hamilton’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 hereHancock County ClerkHancock County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP code6234162341 100%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 Hamilton.
Hamilton sends many workers across the state line to Fort Madison, is healthier than towns with similar incomes and has homes that are cheap against local pay.
HousingCost of living grade B
Hamilton’s grade for cost of living is a B
At 1.8 years of the county’s $66K median household income, the typical home (about $118K) costs less against local pay than in 85% of Illinois towns; that ratio is one input to its B for cost of living. At about $118K, home values are up 0% in five years, against a rise of 30% across Illinois.
At $941 a month, Hamilton’s median rent is below both the Illinois town median ($1,129 a month) and the median of U.S. towns ($1,185 a month). The typical Hamilton home is worth about $118,000, down 0.6% in a year, 60% below the Illinois typical home. 67% of Hamilton households own their home.
$118KZillow home value
| Hamilton | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 67% | 75% | 73% |
| Median rent | $941 a month | $1,129 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Hamilton$118K
Illinois$296K
−0.6%
value change, 1 year
3
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C
Most of Hamilton’s workers commute out: the town has 0.4 jobs for each of them
42% of working residents cross a state line to work, Fort Madison among the top destinations.
Most working residents leave Hamilton for work: only 12% work in town. The top destinations are Keokuk (25%), Fort Madison (6%) and Carthage (5%). Half commute less than 11 miles.
12%work in town
| Hamilton | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $57,000 | $83,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 12% | 8.3% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 25 minutes | 26 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Hamilton12%
Keokuk25%
Fort Madison6%
Carthage5%
Quincy4%
11 mi
median commute distance
460
jobs based in Hamilton
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 16% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Hamilton
Hamilton has chilly winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 86°, January nights drop to 17° and about 23 inches of snow falls in a winter.
23″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter21–37°
Spring42–63°
Summer65–85°
Fall45–65°
Oct 27
typical first frost
Apr 10
typical last frost
+0.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
OutdoorsA
Hamilton has set aside 12.7% of its land for conservation
0.5 miles of trail in 5 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Cedar Glen State Natural Area, at 151 acres. Hamilton’s trail density is 0.1 miles per square mile.
12.7%conserved
12.7%
conserved · 432 of 3,417 acres
0.5 mi
of trails · 0.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Prairie State Eagle Refuge State Natural Area | — | 213 |
| 2. Cedar Glen State Natural Area | — | 151 |
| 3. Wildcat Springs Park | — | 35 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Safety
Crime reported in Hamilton
Hamilton's reported crime rate is well below Illinois's. The property crime rate in Hamilton is 3 per 1,000 residents. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts.
| Hamilton | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2024) | 3 per 1,000 residents | 9.4 | 11.5 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2024) | 0 per 1,000 residents | 1.2 | 1.7 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Hamilton0
Illinois2.9
U.S.3.6
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Hamilton3
Illinois17.7
U.S.17.7
0
violent crimes reported in 2024
8
property crimes reported in 2024
FBI crime data, 2024 · crimes reported to police
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C
Hamilton faces a high natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 60% of U.S. communities. Since 1982, 10 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Hamilton.
60risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHeat wavesCold waves
10
paid flood claims since 1982
8
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HealthB−
On CDC estimates, Hamilton is less healthy than 51% of U.S. towns
Against the 7,990 U.S. towns with household incomes like Hamilton’s, it is healthier than 79%, so its B− isn’t only a matter of income.
Hamilton beats the Illinois average on 3 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 6. 38% of adults have high blood pressure in Hamilton.
49%healthier than U.S. townsB−Health Grade
| Hamilton | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 38% | 35% | 35% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 37% | 35% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 34% | 35% | 36% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 11% | 12% |
32 measures vs. Illinois
3 better23 too close to call6 worse
| What stands out | Hamilton | IL |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 7% | 9.9% |
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 10.1% | 13.2% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.3% | 7.6% |
Memorial Hospital
13.2 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
36th
percentile among IL towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Hamilton
20pages on Hamilton
The big questions
SchoolsB+Beat 66% of IL districtsSafety0 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2024)HealthB−Better than IL on 3 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingB$118K typical home · down 0.6% in a yearWork & commuteC$57K median household income · 460 jobs hereNatural hazardsCFEMA risk higher than 60% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Hamilton; the nearest are
Culver-Stockton CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Canton, MO20.2 mi$30,875 tuitionSoutheastern Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · West Burlington, IA30.9 mi$6,420 in-state tuitionWestern Illinois UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Macomb35.8 mi$15,264 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 Hamilton residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Illinois.
Famous people from Hamilton
3 notable people were born in Hamilton.
About Hamilton
Place in Illinois, United States
Hamilton is a city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,753 at the 2020 census, a decline from 2,951 in 2010. The city is located directly across the Mississippi River from Keokuk, Iowa. Hamilton is the largest city in Hancock County.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1852
- Area
- 5.4 sq mi
- Elevation
- 645 ft
- ZIP code
- 62341
- Area code
- (217) 847
Hamilton’s neighbors
3 towns share a border with Hamilton.
Montebello TownshipKeokukRocky Run-Wilcox TownshipHamilton
How the neighbors grade
| Town | IL rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton | #548 | C+ | B | — | B+ | B− |
| Montebello Township | #528 | C+ | B | — | B+ | B− |
| Rocky Run-Wilcox Township | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Hamilton and Montebello Township report no FBI crime data of their own. Rocky Run-Wilcox Township isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Hamilton with a neighbor →
Questions about Hamilton
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Hamilton, IL a good place to live?
Hamilton grades C+ overall, better than 38% of U.S. towns and #548 of 767 in Illinois. It grades B− for health and B+ for schools. Walkability is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Hamilton, 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 B.
What is Hamilton, IL known for?
3 notable people were born here, including Alden W. Clausen and John Brock.