Swansea, IL, USA - panoramio (1), 2013
Swansea’s story
132 years in pictures
Census counts: 735 in 1900, 14,386 in 2020. The archive holds 7 old photos and papers going back to 2013 and 6 maps from 1937 on.
- 1894Swansea is settled
SwanseaIL
A town of 14,356, settled in 1894.
Population
14,356
2025 Census estimate · −0.1% since 2020
Typical home
$265K
+1.3% in a year
Household income
$92K
median
Median age
42.3
years
Jobs based here
5,066
Balanced
TownGrade
A−
#266 of 767 in IL
Is Swansea a good place to live?
Swansea is a solid, middle-of-the-road choice. It grades A− overall, ranked 266th of 767 in Illinois, with no subject far below average. Its best mark is health: residents are healthier than 74% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. It also does better than most on safety: it reports less crime per resident than 71% of U.S. towns. A typical home there costs about $265K, 3.3 years of the St. Louis metro’s $80K median household income. 43% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Swansea, where Illinois’ towns sit at 29% and U.S. towns at 29%.
WeakestCHazard risk
What makes Swansea stand out
Where Swansea beats most towns.
How Swansea grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Illinois), ordered by how far Swansea is from typical.
Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listCOpen →HealthMemorial Hospital 1.8 miles awayB+Open →SafetyB+Open →SchoolsBeat 66% of Illinois districts on tests and graduationB+Open →Jobs & income$92K median household income; 5,066 jobs based hereB+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 10.7 of 20; 4.9% of households have no car; 1.1% of workers walk, bike or ride transitBOpen →Cost of livingB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors2 miles of trails; 3% conserved landB−Open →HistoryC−Open →Civic life2.6 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market40 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 42.3; 42% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 59 attractions →Cahokia and 56 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Swansea. Close and well known come first.
Big draw8 mi State parkCahokia
Big draw12 mi Stadium & arenaThe Dome at America's Center
12 mi Stadium & arenaBusch Stadium
9 mi LandmarkMonks Mound
11 mi National ParkGateway Arch National Park2.2M visitors a year
13 mi Stadium & arenaEnterprise CenterSources: 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 · Busch Stadium: Lee Ann Ratledge, CC BY 4.0 · Monks Mound: Skubasteve834, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Gateway Arch National Park: Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Enterprise Center: Haaron755, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Swansea: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Swansea, and how to reach them.
PowerAmeren Illinois Company16.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterIl American-East St Louis 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 Swansea’s trash rules yet
SchoolsBelleville Township High School District 201Wolf Branch School District 113High Mount School District 1163 districts serve Swansea; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
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 hereSt. Clair County ClerkSt. Clair County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2023
ZIP codes62226, 6226962226 96% · 62269 3%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 Swansea.
Swansea pairs an A− overall with homes cheaper than the Illinois norm, reports less crime than Shiloh or any other graded neighbor and sends many workers across the state line to St. Louis.
OutdoorsB−
Swansea has set aside 3.1% of its land for conservation
2.3 miles of trail in 5 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Centenial Park, at 29 acres.
#344for trails in IL
| Swansea | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 3.1% | 3.7% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.4 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
3.1%
conserved · 132 of 4,220 acres
2.3 mi
of trails · 0.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Centenial Park | 0.9 mi | 29 |
| 2. Schranz Memorial Park | 0.5 mi | 12 |
| 3. Melvin Price Memorial City Park | 0.4 mi | 26 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HealthB+
For health, Swansea earns a B+
Its widest gap with Illinois is no health insurance: 6.2% of those 18–64 have no health insurance, against 9.9% statewide.
81% of adults had a checkup this year in Swansea. Swansea beats the Illinois average on 8 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 3. 20% of adults have been diagnosed with depression in Swansea.
74%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
| Swansea | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 81% | 78% | 79% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 22% | 23% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 17% | 17% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 38% | 35% | 35% |
32 measures vs. Illinois
8 better21 too close to call3 worse
| What stands out | Swansea | IL |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 6.2% | 9.9% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 12.3% | 15.9% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 9.1% | 7.6% |
Memorial Hospital
1.8 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
61st
percentile among IL towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SafetyB+
For safety, Swansea earns a B+
Its B+ tops all 4 graded towns on its borders; Shiloh (B+) comes closest. Reported crimes fell from 164 to 109 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
71%of U.S. towns report more crimeB+Safety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Swansea0.7
Illinois2.6
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Swansea6.8
Illinois15.6
U.S.15.5
71st
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
61st
percentile among IL towns
10
violent crimes reported in 2025
99
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C
Swansea faces a high natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 68% of U.S. communities. Since 1996, 17 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Swansea.
68risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingEarthquakesHeat waves
17
paid flood claims since 1996
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Four seasons and hot summers in Swansea
Swansea has chilly winters and warm summers. The July high in Swansea is 88°F.
11″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter26–43°
Spring46–67°
Summer67–87°
Fall47–68°
Oct 20
typical first frost
Apr 12
typical last frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B+
Most working residents commute out of Swansea
23% of working residents cross a state line to work, St. Louis among the top destinations. Swansea has about as many jobs (5,066) as working residents, but only 318 people both live and work here.
Most working residents leave Swansea for work: only 5% work in town. 15% of Swansea workers work from home. The top destinations are Belleville (17%), St.
5%work in town
| Swansea | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 15% | 11% | 11% |
| Median household income | $92,000 | $83,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 24 minutes | 26 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 5.4% | 8.4% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Swansea5%
Belleville17%
St. Louis12%
O'Fallon5%
Fairview Heights5%
14 mi
median commute distance
5,066
jobs based in Swansea
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
B
Walkability grade: more walkable than 64% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HousingCost of living grade B−
For cost of living, Swansea earns a B−
Swansea grades A− overall with a typical home of about $265K, below the Illinois typical value; only 48 of the 183 Illinois towns graded A− or better can say that.
The typical Swansea home is worth about $265,000, up 1.3% in a year, 10% below the Illinois typical home.
$265KZillow home value
| Swansea | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 73% | 75% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,137 a month | $1,128 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Swansea$265K
Illinois$296K
Market temperature
40
days on market
103.2%
sale-to-list price
+1.3%
value change, 1 year
20
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Who lives here
An age mix much like Illinois’s
No broad age group is more than 4 points off the Illinois average. 43% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 38% across Illinois.
42.3median age · IL 39
| Swansea | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 years | 40.7 years | 40.5 years |
| Under 18 | 23% | 22% | 22% |
SwanseaIllinoisUnited States
Ages · share of residents
14%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma3%
High school19%
Some college22%
Associate’s13%
Bachelor’s22%
Graduate20%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±2.9 points. Across Illinois, 50.6% of residents are women.
| Swansea | IL | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 11.9% | 11.5% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 11.3% | 10.4% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 8.5% | 9.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 11.6% | 13.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 12.8% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 11.7% | 12.4% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 13.9% | 12.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 11.3% | 10% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 7% | 7% | 7% |
| No diploma | 3.3% | 9.5% | 10.4% |
| High school | 19.4% | 25.1% | 26% |
| Some college | 22.2% | 19.2% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 12.7% | 8.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 22.2% | 22.6% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 20.3% | 15.3% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Swansea
19pages on Swansea
The big questions
SchoolsB+Beat 66% of IL districtsSafetyB+0.7 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthB+Better than IL on 8 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingB−$265K typical home · up 1.3% in a yearWork & commuteB+$92K median household income · 5,066 jobs hereNatural hazardsCFEMA risk higher than 68% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
7 within 15 miles of the center of Swansea
Southwestern Illinois CollegeCommunity college · Public · Belleville4.2 mi$3,960 in-state tuitionMcKendree UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Lebanon10 mi$34,740 tuitionHarris-Stowe State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Saint Louis, MO13.9 mi$7,008 in-state tuition
About 8 of every 100 Swansea residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Illinois.
About Swansea
Village in Illinois, United States
Swansea is a village in St. Clair County, Illinois. It is a part of the St. Louis metropolitan area and Metro East in southern Illinois. It is surrounded by the communities of Fairview Heights, Belleville, O’Fallon, and Shiloh. As of the 2020 census, Swansea had a population of 14,386.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 6.6 sq mi
- Area code
- 618
Swansea’s neighbors
6 towns share a border with Swansea.
St. Clair TownshipBellevilleFairview HeightsShilohO'FallonCaseyville TownshipSwansea
How the neighbors grade
| Town | IL rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swansea | #266 | A− | B− | B+ | B+ | B+ |
| St. Clair Township | #482 | B− | B− | — | C+ | B− |
| Belleville | #595 | C | B | C− | B− | C+ |
| Fairview Heights | #568 | C | B | D | B− | B− |
| Shiloh | #156 | A | C | B+ | A− | A− |
| O'Fallon | #252 | A− | C− | B− | A− | A |
| Caseyville Township | #342 | B+ | C+ | — | B | B |
St. Clair Township and Caseyville Township report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Swansea with a neighbor →
Questions about Swansea
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Swansea, IL a good place to live?
By most measures, yes. Swansea grades A− overall, better than 77% of U.S. towns and #266 of 767 in Illinois. It grades B+ for health, B+ for safety and B+ for schools.
Is Swansea, IL expensive?
Louis, MO-IL metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B−.