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St. Elmo, IL

View of St. Elmo, IL
Image credit: Djmaschek / CC BY 4.0
Population
1,213
U.S. Census Population Estimates Program · 2025
Elevation
618 ft
Median Home Value
$82,600
U.S. Census American Community Survey 5-Year · 2024
Median Rent
$762/mo
U.S. Census American Community Survey 5-Year · 2024
Median Income
$45,294
U.S. Census American Community Survey 5-Year · 2024
General Quality
Overall rating out of 100

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What stands out in St. Elmo

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OverallBest places in IllinoisPopulation rankingHighest population places in IllinoisNearest larger communityEffingham, Illinois18 miles away · 12,406 residents.

About St. Elmo

Set along historic Route 40 in Fayette County, St. Elmo is a quiet, down-to-earth town with deep Midwestern roots. The community got its start along the old National Road and grew around the railroads, holding onto that relaxed small-town feel through the generations. Thanks to nearby Interstate 70, residents get the calm of rural living along with an easy commute to regional hubs like Vandalia and Effingham.

St Elmo, IL

The town has an interesting history for its size, including a massive 1930s oil boom that earned it the nickname "Little Tulsa" and an early visit from Charles Lindbergh in 1927. Today, life here centers around local families and the community school district, which educates kids right in town from elementary through high school. If you want an affordable, peaceful place where neighbors know each other, St. Elmo makes settling into southern Illinois simple and comfortable.

Top Rating Signals

Highest current ratings for this town.

Lower County Wildfire Hazard Potential ClassA+100.0ratingLower Projected Late-Century County-Area Exposure to Sea-Level RiseA+100.0ratingLow PopulationA+100.0rating

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