Fort Massac Site · National Register of Historic Places
Metropolis’s story
269 years in pictures
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1757Metropolis is settled
MetropolisIL
A town of 5,864, settled in 1757. Nearly 34.1% of it is conserved land.
Photo: Nyttend · Public domain
Population
5,864
−8.7% since 2010
Typical home
$126K
+5.2% in a year
Household income
$50K
median
Median age
43.5
years
Jobs based here
2,303
Balanced
What makes Metropolis stand out
The 3 things Metropolis does most differently from other towns.
Outdoors
#5 most conserved land in IL
3.7 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves
34.1% of the town is conserved land.
$126Ktypical home
Housing
$126K typical home
58% below the IL typical home
Up 5.2% in a year.
100 U.S. towns● Metropolis
Health
89% of U.S. towns are healthier
on CDC estimates
Better than IL on 1 measures, worse on 18.
Get outside
4 miles of trails in Metropolis
34.1% of the town is conserved land, across 7 parks and preserves.
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Metropolis’s report card
Outdoors4 mi#225 for trails in ILCommute8 miHalf of commuters travel lessHousing$126K58% below the IL typical homeHealthDHealthier than 11% of U.S. townsHazards87/100Very high risk of storm & flood damageClimate89°/27°Summer high · winter low · 9″ snowSafetyC+Less crime than 36% of U.S. townsSchoolsB−Beats 51% of IL districts
Now in Metropolis
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Metropolis is #691 of 691 in IL for “Coolest summers”. Fair?
Your answer becomes a post in Metropolis’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
Weather
Forecast →61°
Clear
H 91° · L 68°
Local news
All →- Monday WMOK News Check Yellow Sheet – September 28, 2026 – Metropolis and Massac County News920wmok.com · Sep 28
- Metropolis City Council and TIF 7 Public Hearing Set for Tonight920wmok.com · Sep 28
- Monday WMOK News Check Yellow Sheet – September 21, 2026 – Metropolis and Massac County News920wmok.com · Sep 21
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Metropolis. Another town gets a different order.
Outdoors
Nearly a third of Metropolis is conserved land
3.7 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves.
#225for trails in IL
34.1%
conserved · 1,336 of 3,918 acres
3.7 mi
of trails · 0.6 per sq mi
#5
most conserved land in IL
#316
most walkable in IL
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Fort Massac State Park | 2.6 mi | 1,292 |
| 2. Metropolis Sportspark | 0.5 mi | 22 |
| 3. Metropolis Soccer Fields | — | 22 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Work & commute
About one in four working residents works right in Metropolis
About one in 4 of Metropolis’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Paducah (22%), Calvert City (2%) and Marion (2%). Half commute less than 8 miles.
28%work in town
Where working residents work
In Metropolis28%
Paducah22%
Calvert City2%
Marion2%
Springfield1%
8 mi
median commute distance
2,303
jobs based in Metropolis
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Housing
A typical Metropolis home is worth about $126K
The typical Metropolis home is worth about $126,000, up 5.2% in a year, 58% below the Illinois typical home.
$126KZillow home value
Typical home value
Metropolis$126K
Illinois$298K
+5.2%
value change, 1 year
1
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Health
Healthier than 11% of U.S. towns
Metropolis beats the Illinois average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 18.
DHealth Grade
32 measures vs. Illinois
1 better13 too close to call18 worse
| What stands out | Metropolis | IL |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 79% | 75.7% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 23.7% | 10.3% |
Massac Memorial Hospital
3.1 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
3rd
percentile among IL towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Natural hazards
Very high risk, with earthquakes at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 87% of U.S. communities.
87risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
EarthquakesInland floodingTornadoes
55
paid flood claims since 1979
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Climate
Four seasons, hot summers
Metropolis has chilly winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 89°, a January night drops to 27°, and about 9 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
9″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter29–47°
Spring47–69°
Summer67–88°
Fall48–71°
Oct 28
typical first frost
Apr 5
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Safety
Less crime per resident than 36% of U.S. towns
Metropolis reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 64% report less.
C+Safety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Metropolis3.5
Illinois2.6
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Metropolis9.6
Illinois15.6
U.S.15.5
36th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
23rd
percentile among IL towns
20
violent crimes reported in 2025
55
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Schools
Metropolis’s public schools outperform 51% of Illinois districts
The public schools Metropolis’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 51% of Illinois’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.
B−School Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metropolis Elem School | PK–6 | 457 | C |
| Massac Jr High School | 7–8 | 309 | B+ |
| Massac County High School | 9–12 | 512 | C+ |
| Starquest Acad RSSP South | 6–12 | — | Not graded |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within IL on state tests and graduationAll 4 schools →
Landmarks
2 places in Metropolis on the National Register of Historic Places.
Famous people from Metropolis
14 notable people were born in Metropolis.
J
Jack SmithAmerican racing driver · 1924–2001B
Ben TaylorAmerican baseball player · 1927–1999D
Dale AndersonMember of the Maryland House of Delegates · 1916–1996About Metropolis
City in Illinois, United States
Metropolis is a city and the county seat in Massac County, Illinois, United States. It is located by the Ohio River. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 5,969, down from 6,537 in 2010. Metropolis is part of the Paducah metropolitan area in Southern Illinois.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1757
- Population
- 5,969
- Area
- 6.0 sq mi
- Elevation
- 308 ft
- ZIP code
- 62960
- Area code
- 618
More about Metropolis
Still missing for Metropolis:archive photosupcoming events