Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 14 h 48 min5:33 am – 8:21 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 9 h 32 min7:08 am – 4:39 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People11,611 residentsin the ZIP code areaMedian age 42.24,921 householdsMedian household income $60,539Median home value $101,100Median rent $843 a month70% of homes owner-occupiedMedian property tax $1,489 a yearSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Work and commuting4.3% unemployment rate54% of adults are in the labour force, 4,806 employedMain industries: education and health care 24%, manufacturing 15%, retail 10%Average commute 24 minutes76% drive alone, 12% car-pool, 1% walk or cycle, 9% work from homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
Education and languages19% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher90% finished high school, 5% hold a graduate degreeLanguages at home: English only 96%, Spanish 2%2% speak English less than very wellSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 88°F, lows 68°FColdest month January: highs 41°F, lows 25°F46 in of rain a year, on about 73 dayswettest month April10 in of snow a year, on about 6 days43 days above 90°F, 93 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Benton 2 N station, 2 mi away; rain from Rend Lake Dam; snow from Plumfield
Parks and public landsBenton City Parkpark · 1.2 mi · 98 acresGolf Courserecreation area · 4.5 mi · 172 acresCampbell Pond State Habitat Areastate conservation land · 14.2 mi · 529 acresCrab Orchard National Wildlife Refugenational wildlife refuge · 19.2 mi · 45,487 acresShawnee National Forestnational forest · 22.6 mi · 273,666 acresLake Murphysboro State Parkstate park · 28.8 mi · 948 acresSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
Earthquakes21 of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 19701 of magnitude 4+, 0 of magnitude 5+Largest: magnitude 4.2 on 5 Feb 199446 mi away, near Dongola, IllinoisMost recent: magnitude 3.1 on 18 Dec 202318 mi awaySource: USGS Earthquake Catalog
Natural hazardsOverall risk Relatively LowFranklin County, IL, compared with all US countiesHigher-risk hazardsCold wave Relatively HighStrong wind Relatively HighWinter weather Relatively HighSource: FEMA National Risk Index (county level)
Air quality68% of days had good air in 2025245 of 361 days measured116 moderate daysMedian index 42, worst day 98main pollutant: fine particles (PM2.5)Source: US EPA Air Quality Index, nearest monitors: Hamilton County, IL, 22 mi away
Internet at home85% of households have a broadband subscription56% have cable, fibre or DSL20% rely on a mobile data plan alone9% have no internet at homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Drinking waterBentonserves 8,104 people from surface water purchased1 health-based violation since 2021latest Oct 2024: lead and copper, treatment technique30 monitoring or reporting violations since 2021Source: US EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, largest system serving the town
Elevation438 ft134 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalFranklin Hospitalunder a milePost officeBenton Post Officeunder a mileTown hallWest City Village Hall1.3 miPoliceBenton Police Departmentunder a mileFire stationBenton Fire Departmentunder a mileSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
SchoolsWithin 2 mi4 schools2 elementary, 1 high, 1 otherSchoolKmc 801 Bd Centerunder a mileHighBenton Consolidated High Schoolunder a mileElementaryBenton Grade School 5 - 81.5 miCollegeRend Lake College8.7 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportVeterans Airport of Southern Illinois MWA18 miMajor airportSt. Louis Lambert International Airport STL94 miInterstateI-57under a mileUS highwayUS 5117 miAmtrakDu Quoin, IL DQN17 miCoachMt. Vernon IL (MVI)Greyhound21 miTransit6 stops within a mileSouth Central Transit (SCT)Sources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 62812 ZIP area.
