Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
The best of Palestine’s subject grades are an A+ for cost of living and an A for history; the weakest is a D for schools. Only 13 of Illinois’ 1,284 towns score higher on cost of living. The median household income is $63K, and 15% of residents live below the poverty line. Of the 367 Illinois towns we compare, none has a lower property crime rate than Palestine. On the outdoors, just 37 of Illinois’ 1,285 towns do worse. Palestine has 3 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Fife Opera House and Palestine Commercial Historic District. Palestine has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
Where Palestine beats most towns.
Fife Opera HouseIn a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Illinois), ordered by how far Palestine is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 735 in 1880, a peak of 1,803 in 1920, 1,233 in 2020. The archive holds 9 old photos and papers going back to 2010 and a map from 1966 on.
3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Palestine, 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 Palestine.
The typical Palestine home is worth about $111,000, down 4.5% in a year, 63% below the Illinois typical home. Palestine’s median rent is $719 a month, where Illinois’ towns sit at $1,129 a month and U.S. towns at $1,185 a month. 83% of Palestine households own their home.
| Palestine | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $719 a month | $1,129 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 83% | 75% | 73% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Palestine beats the Illinois average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 12. 16% of Palestine adults report frequent physical distress, above both Illinois’ towns (13%) and U.S. towns (14%). 18% of adults smoke cigarettes in Palestine.
| Palestine | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 13% | 14% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 13% | 14% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 35% | 35% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 18% | 19% |
| What stands out | Palestine | IL |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with COPD | 10.3% | 6.3% |
| More smokers | 17.5% | 12.1% |
| More adults with heart disease | 8.2% | 5.9% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Most working residents leave Palestine for work: only 4% work in town. The top destinations are Robinson (32%), Robinson Township (7%) and Marshall (3%). Half commute less than 16 miles.
| Palestine | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $63,000 | $83,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 3.6% | 8.3% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 25 minutes | 26 minutes | 25 minutes |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Palestine has chilly winters and warm summers. The July high in Palestine is 87°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Palestine's reported crime rate is well below Illinois's. Palestine’s violent crime rate is 0 per 1,000 residents.
FBI crime data, 2024 · crimes reported to police
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 56% of U.S. communities. Since 1979, 5 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Palestine.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
None within 15 miles of Palestine; the nearest are
About 2 of every 100 Palestine residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Illinois.
Where Palestine’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
3 places in Palestine on the National Register of Historic Places.
Village in Illinois, United States
Palestine is a village in Crawford County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,233 at the 2020 Census. Palestine has a total area of 0.79 square miles (2.05 km2), all land.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A+.
