B
Overall Niche Grade
How are grades calculated?
  1. Public Schools
    B
  2. Crime & Safety
    C
  3. Housing
    B
  4. Nightlife
    B+
  5. Good for Families
    B
  6. Diversity
    A-
  7. Jobs
    C
  8. Weather
    B-
  9. Cost of Living
    A-
  10. Health & Fitness
    B
  11. Outdoor Activities
    B-
  12. Commute
    A-
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Population
27,335

Real Estate

Median Home Value
$81,600
National
$178,600
Median Rent
$718
National
$928
Area Feel
Suburban
Rent vs. Own
  • Rent
    39%
  • Own
    61%

Alton Rankings

Niche ranks thousands of places to live based on key statistics from the U.S. Census and and expert insights.

Crime & Safety

Crime & Safety
C
Based on violent and property crime rates.
Violent Crimes
  • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
National
  • Assault
    274
    0
  • Murder
    4
    0
  • Rape
    96
    41
  • Robbery
    115
    0
Property Crimes
  • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
National
  • Burglary
    1,078
    1
  • Theft
    3,648
    2,081
  • Motor Vehicle Theft
    193
    0

Residents

Diversity
A-
Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
Median Household Income
$36,250
National
$53,889
Children
20%
Education Levels
National
  • Master's degree or higher
    6%
    11%
  • Bachelor's degree
    12%
    19%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    40%
    29%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    32%
    28%
  • Less than high school diploma
    10%
    13%
  • Public Schools
  • Private Schools
  • Colleges
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Alton Reviews

36 reviews
All Categories
I would like to see more diversity in Alton. I would also like the school system to be better than it currently is. The lunch menu is so very unhealthy for the students, there isn't time in between classes to get a drink at the water fountain or use the restroom, and teachers will not let kids leave mid-class to do this. It's ridiculous and unhealthy. If they are trying to thwart bullying, then they need to employee hall monitors instead of damaging children's bladder's by having to hold it all day long. There have been numerous bomb threats at the school as well. I'm just glad my child will be graduating soon.
Review Alton
Alton is a decent town to raise a family. It's a town where everyone comes across people they know when they're out running errands. There are a lot of nice areas, areas that have been restored to their historical values. Alton is really trying to keep it's main roads are presentable but one thing I dislike is that the city neglects the care of the inner city (ie. street maintenance etc). The city has been putting a lot of money into adding more businesses and is currently adding a transit system which will prove to be extremely helpful. It will link Alton to other cities on a more direct route and at a faster speed. As I mentioned, St. Louis is very close. That is another great thing about living here. It is not too small, not too large and the city is close enough to be conveniently available if bigger shopping trips or entertainment is desired. One downfall is that while violence seems to be fairly low here, drug activity seems to be common and in certain spots where that activity exists there is prostitution. That doesn't define our city though. Overall I like Alton. We have a saying, "Once you've been to Alton you always come back." Something like that ... I was born and raised in the house across the street, have moved a few times, and here I am, living in Alton again. It's my home again, for now.
There is drug activity as well as prostitution in certain areas, however in this messed up world those sorts of things exist all around us, even when it's not blatant, unfortunately, blatant drug dealing and prostitution here in town happens mostly in the less desirable areas where the city is not so quick to turn their attention to beautifying those neighborhoods. Crime is low here and that's great for our youth as well as the elderly, everyone in fact. It's really not a bad place to be all-in-all.