An eclectic Illinois community 15 miles from St. Louis
Collinsville is a community known in large part for a couple of condiments — the area holds the distinction of being both the horseradish capital of the world and the site of the world’s largest catsup bottle. But, those novelties aside, locals looking to buy a house in the area are attracted by the bang for their buck they can get here. “You tend to get more square footage for a lower price and lower property tax than some other areas,” says Realtor and longtime St. Louis-area resident Jake Kline of Dream Homes with Jake, brokered by EXP Realty. And as close as this southwestern Illinois city of a little more than 24,000 is to St. Louis, just 15 miles away, Collinsville boasts a collection of its own restaurants, retail stores, outdoor attractions and job opportunities, making it more than a bedroom community.
Discover the heart of Illinois in the vibrant community of Collinsville.
From local shops to historic landmarks, Main Street Collinsville has it all.
Feel the heartbeat of Collinsville as you wander down its iconic Main Street.
Cruise down historic Route 66 through Collinsville, IL.
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Midcentury homes are predominant, but variety abounds
The majority of houses in Collinsville date back to the mid-20th century, including mostly bungalows, ranch-style houses and colonials. However, it has everything from 19th century homes to those built in recent years. And the houses here come at a wide range of prices, based on factors like condition and age. “There are homes for $20 to $30,000, while others go from $200 to 300,000 dollars or more,” Kline says. “It’s buyer-specific.” Homes in town come with lots of about one-fifth of an acre or more in a lot of cases, enough for a good bit of front and back yard space. Collinsville homes are selling for $192,683 on average, up 6% year over year but 36% less than average prices across the Missouri River in St. Louis and 65% less than the national average. In turn, first-time home buyers are among the clients drawn to Collinsville, Kline says.
Walking through Collinsville is like flipping through a book of architectural history.
Nestled amidst the green, bungalow homes in Collinsville are a sight to behold.
Embrace spacious living with the open floor plans of Collinsville's ranch homes.
Nestled in the heart of Illinois, single-family homes in Collinsville exude warmth and charm.
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Collinsville carries its own commercial footprint
While the commute isn’t intensive, living in Collinsville and working in St. Louis isn’t a given for residents. Collinsville has its own major employers — Woods Basement Systems and Walmart are among them, Kline says. Woods Basement Systems is one of the largest basement and foundation contractor companies across Illinois and Missouri. There are two Walmart locations in town. Collinsville’s reputation as the horseradish capital of the world comes from the fact that the area grows 65% to 85% of the world’s horseradish crop, across several local farms. The region’s sandy soil is conducive to growing the plant.
Woods Basement Systems located in Collinsville is one of the largest foundation contractors.
Collinsville is known as the horseradish capital of the world.
Collinsville’s sandy soil is conducive to growing the horseradish crop.
Transforming shopping into an experience at Walmart, Collinsville.
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Highways lead to Collinsville’s commercial hub
The most packed collection of restaurants and other businesses in town comes at the confluence of Interstate 55 and Illinois Route 157, two of the area’s major roads. The corridor has an assortment of fast-food favorites and big-box chains, and multiple hotels. Collinsville recently received almost $650,000 in funding through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program to add electric vehicle charging stations at one of those hotels, the La Quinta Inn & Suites. More big-box retailers are available to the north in the Lakeside Plaza shopping center off Beltline Road.
Uptown Collinsville, which has Main Street at its core, is a hub of local businesses. “More quaint, homestyle type of stuff. A lot of local bars,” Kline says. “I get my hair cut there.” Another of the city’s food-related attractions is the world’s largest catsup bottle, which is actually a 170-foot-tall water tower along Illinois Route 159 decorated as a bottle of Brooks catsup. Brooks was once bottled at a now defunct plant here, and the brand’s product is now available on only a limited basis. But the water tower is on the National Register of Historic Places “A lot of people come and take pictures of it,” Kline says.
Shop, dine, and explore at Collinsville Crossing.
Dip into the history of Collinsville with a visit to the iconic World's Largest Catsup Bottle.
For a hearty meal and a warm welcome, Burt's Chuck Wagon is the place to be.
Dive into a plateful of tradition and taste at Burt's Chuck Wagon, Collinsville.
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Collinsville schools are well-regarded
The Collinsville Community Unit School District #10 covers students in town, a system with a B-plus grade on Niche. There are more than 6,000 students across the district, in seven elementary schools, one intermediate school, one middle school and one high school. The A-minus-rated Maryville Elementary is No. 4 on Niche’s list of the best elementary schools across Madison County and was recognized as a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School.
Private options in town include SS. Peter & Paul Catholic School, which covers prekindergarten through eighth grade with a student-teacher ratio of 10-to-1.
Maryville Elementary School caters to individual learning styles.
Empowering young minds for a brighter future at Dorris Intermediate School in Collinsville.
Empowerment, education, and excellence converge at Collinsville High School in Illinois.
SS. Peter and Paul Catholic School prioritizes learning and collaboration.
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Multiple sports complexes highlight city parks
The city has a 17-acre athletic facility, the Collinsville Jaycee Sports Complex, that’s full of 12 baseball fields, football and soccer fields, batting cages, and four practice fields. Woodland Park, meanwhile, is an almost 50-acre space with more ball diamonds, plus an 18-hole disc golf course and playgrounds. The 2,960-acre Horseshoe Lake State Park is just 8 miles outside the city and has 4 miles of trails. Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site is another venture and is the largest pre-Columbian Native American city outside Mexico.
Locals can also spend outdoor time at events like the International Horseradish Festival in June. The festival dates back more than 30 years and is a celebration of the crop, and the associated condiment the area is known for. The event has food vendors, music, a car show and more. People can see live horse racing at Collinsville’s FanDuel Sportsbook & Horse Racing, formerly named Fairmount Park — it’s one of just two horse racing tracks in the state.
The Collinsville Maryville Troy YMCA is an option for indoor recreation during the city’s colder months. Collinsville experiences warm summers and winters that average about a foot of snowfall. The YMCA includes an indoor pool, gymnasium, pickleball courts, an assortment of fitness equipment, and more.
Catch a game or practice your swing at Jaycee Sports Complex's baseball field.
Jaycee Sports Complex has multiple baseball diamonds.
Enjoy the scenic trails at Horseshoe Lake State Park, perfect for biking adventures.
Discover ancient history at Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site.
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Residents are close to Interstates 55 and 255
Interstates 55 and 255 run through Collinsville. Both highways are options for commutes to St. Louis. I-55 connects to I-70 for drives to the St. Louis Lambert International Airport, 27 miles west. Travelers can find direct flights to more than 70 cities at Lambert. There are multiple Madison County Transit bus stops in the city, and the system has 28 routes in total.
Crime
According to the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer, Collinsville population-adjusted crime rate was significantly lower than those recorded statewide and nationwide in 2023. Collinsville has its own, independent police and fire departments. The fire department provides EMS services as well.
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