St. Elmo or Saint Elmo is a city in Fayette County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,254 at the 2020 census. St. Elmo was established in 1871.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code62458

Area code618

Living in St. Elmo

Housing in St. Elmo

$127K▼ 7.4% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical St. Elmo home is worth about $127,000, down 7.4% in a year, 57% below the Illinois typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in St. Elmo

—

Not graded

A grade needs all of the FBI's latest years (2023–2025). St. Elmo's police department reported only 2024 and 2025, so we don't grade it yet. The figures below are still real.

Violent crime per 1,000

St. Elmo 2.4

Illinois 2.6

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

St. Elmo 6.5

Illinois 15.6

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in St. Elmo

Full picture →

Most working residents leave St. Elmo for work: only 11% work in town. The top destinations are Effingham (16%), Vandalia (6%) and Altamont (3%). Half commute less than 21 miles.

Effingham

16%

Vandalia

Altamont

Springfield

11%Work in townlive and work in St. Elmo 21 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 734Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in St. Elmo →

Health in St. Elmo

C⁻

Health Grade C−

Healthier than 19% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 57% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Illinois

15worse than IL

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 17 are too close to call.

Conditions 8▼ 4 close Habits 2▼ 2 close Care 2▼ 5 close Mind 3▼ 2 close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

23%More older adults who have lost all their teethIL 10.3% · worse 10.5%More adults with COPDIL 6.3% · worse 18.3%More smokersIL 12.1% · worse

Care nearby

Fayette County HospitalVandalia · 13.7 mi · ER · rural critical access

Sihf Healthcare - VandaliaVandalia · 14.5 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for St. Elmo · CMS · HRSAHealth in St. Elmo →

Natural hazards in St. Elmo

High

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 60% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🏚️ Earthquakes🥶 Cold waves

0Does St. Elmo flood?no paid flood claims on record 1Disasters that paid out herefederal disaster sent FEMA money to St. Elmo

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in St. Elmo →

Climate in St. Elmo

Full climate →

St. Elmo has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 87°, a January night drops to 21°, and about 16 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

40° / 24°Winter

64° / 44°Spring

85° / 64°Summer

67° / 45°Fall