Streator receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Mount Vernon
Streator
Opportunity
22 · Bottom 2%
vs27 · Bottom 5%
Growth
9 · Bottom 1%
vs5 · Bottom 1%
Climate
68 · Bottom 41%
vs60 · Bottom 14%
Physical resilience
57 · Bottom 49%
vs69 · Top 38%
Housing affordability
96 · Top 17%
vs100 · Top 8%
Schools
31 · Bottom 24%
vs30 · Bottom 23%
Access
80 · Bottom 22%
vs77 · Bottom 19%
Economic stability
40 · Bottom 17%
vs38 · Bottom 15%
Measured values
| Metric | Mount Vernon | Streator | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,090 | 12,330 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $55,357 | $57,609 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $31,841 | $32,833 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 961/sq mi | 1,684/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $99,800 | $94,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $910 | $852 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 53.1% | 63.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2% | 4.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.4% | -1.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.5% | 12.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 17.3% | 20.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 2 | 0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.1 | 0.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -83.3% | -100.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 86°F | 88°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 22°F | 16°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 45.0" | 39.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 39 mi | 45 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 15.8 min | 26.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.9 | 37.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 15 | 6 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 13.56 | 14.09 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 13.1% | 12.1% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 15.9% | 18.8% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 69.2% | 62.8% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Mount Vernon
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind.
Streator
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Mount Vernon
50
Your Score
47
Area Score
Streator
51
Your Score
49
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Mount Vernon, IL · Streator, IL · How this is calculated: methodology