At a Glance
Median Income
$82,125
$40,031 per capita
Home Value
$183,300
Zillow: $205,832
Median Rent
$1,024/mo
23.8% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
17.4%
91.8% high school+
Unemployment
12.8%
15.8% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
37.7%
16.3% smoking rate
How Gardner Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Gardner's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Gardner a Good Place to Live?
B
3.4 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Gardner residents earn a median household income of $82,125 , which is 9% above the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $40,031. The unemployment rate stands at 12.8% (256% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 15.8% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 1,204 business establishments, including 130 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Gardner is $183,300 , 35% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $205,832. Median rent is $1,024/month, with 23.8% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 100.0 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1965.
Education
17.4% of adults in Gardner hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(48% below the national average).
91.8% have completed high school. Local schools score 6.1/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Gardner has an average annual temperature of 49°F (10°C).
Winters average 22°F in January while summers reach 73°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 37.7 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population1,319
Median Age38.5 yrs
Density453/mi²
Male / Female53% / 47%
Foreign Born1.4%
Veterans13.1%
Economy
C+
Median Income$82,125
Per Capita$40,031
Unemployment12.8%
Poverty15.8%
County GDP$6,044M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,344
Housing
A+
Home Value$183,300
Rent$1,024
Ownership77.1%
Zillow$205,832
Housing Units595
Rent Burden23.8%
Health
Obesity37.7%
Diabetes9.9%
Smoking16.3%
Heart Disease5.8%
Premature Death7,576/100K
Climate
Avg Temp49°F
Rain37.7 in/yr
Elevation577 ft
Education
C
Bachelor's+17.4%
High School+91.8%
Graduate+1.9%
School Score6.1/10
Community
2024 VoteR 64% / D 34%
Commute30 min
Broadband85.2%
Internet Speed63 Mbps
EV Stations2
Libraries3
Did You Know?
The median home in Gardner was built in 1965.
The nearest airport is Joliet Regional (23 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.396 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
9.5% of the population has a disability.
There are 130 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 5 fatal vehicle crashes.