City Score: East Alton, IL

The score

East Alton, IL scores 37 out of 100 on the Joy Project City Score, status Liberty since Oct 2026. Condition 39 (the city from public data, 60%) and Movement 33 (how the church is moving, 40%). How the score is built.

Condition: Partly Illinois state-wide (3 of 4 indexes)

Read state-wide: Illinois

State-wide for Burden and Liberty: the numbers for Violent crime, Property crime, Legal gambling, Religious Liberty in the States score, Safeguards fully in law, State Religious Freedom Restoration Act, Anti-Christian hate crimes, School choice, Protections for the unborn, Homeschool freedom, and Tone of news coverage of Christianity are published for Illinois as a whole, not by city, so every Illinois city carries Illinois's numbers.

Illinois scores 45 out of 100, Liberty since Oct 2026 (Condition 54 · Movement 32).

These numbers change at the state. A petition started from any Illinois city reaches Illinois's officials, and Illinois's own score moves with them.

Start a petition for Illinois in the Joy app.

What's moving it

• 91 prayer gatherings (Prayer, listed from church websites)
• 313 ways to serve (Service, listed from church websites)
• 350 gatherings (Gathering, listed from church websites)
• 940 churches listed (Unity, listed from church websites)
• 129 Bible studies (Discipleship, listed from church websites)

The condition of East Alton, IL

• What East Alton is up against: 55 out of 100 — Better than 34% of cities, down 10 points (Illinois state-wide)
• Where grace is growing: 26 out of 100 — Better than 37% of cities (From Madison County, IL)
• Marriage & family: 17 out of 100 — Better than 6% of cities
• Christian liberty: 69 out of 100 — Better than 84% of cities, down 3 points (Illinois state-wide)

Christianity on the Move in East Alton, IL

A non-biased rating of Christian values across the cultural areas of impact, from public data: 1 to 100, higher is more favourable. East Alton, IL rates 36 out of 100: Drifting across 7 of 8 areas. The rating is public data only; how the church is moving in each area this week is shown beside it and never blended in. How it is built.

The Church: 30 out of 100, Lukewarm

Faith institutions, spiritual leadership and worship spaces. Key measure: Church adherents (477.8 adherents per 1,000 residents, Madison County, IL). From Madison County, IL. The church's movement in it this week: 51 out of 100 (91 prayer gatherings, 313 ways to serve, and 350 gatherings).

The Family: 18 out of 100, Broken

The core social unit: marriages, children and household structures. Key measure: Children with married parents (33.6 % of own children under 18 in married-couple families, East Alton, IL). The church's movement in it this week: 50 out of 100 (129 Bible studies).

Education: 30 out of 100, Wandering

Schools, universities and systems of learning. Key measure: School choice (0 0-2, Illinois). Illinois state-wide. The church's movement in it this week: 50 out of 100 (129 Bible studies).

Government: 76 out of 100, Just

Public policy, law, safety and civic governance. Key measure: Religious Liberty in the States score (70.4 % of the edition's safeguards in state law, Illinois). Illinois state-wide. The church's movement in it this week: 35 out of 100.

Media: 46 out of 100, Negative

News, journalism and digital communication. Key measure: Tone of news coverage of Christianity (-0.4 tone (-10 hostile to +10 favourable), Illinois). Illinois state-wide. The church's movement in it this week: 25 out of 100.

Arts & Entertainment: 36 out of 100, Worldly

Film, music, sports and cultural storytelling. From East Alton, IL's other areas. The church's movement in it this week: 25 out of 100.

Business: 22 out of 100, Tightfisted

Commerce, generosity and the marketplace. Key measure: Charitable giving (0.7 itemized charitable deductions as % of adjusted gross income, Madison County, IL). From Madison County, IL. The church's movement in it this week: 22 out of 100.

Compassion: 31 out of 100, Indifferent

Mercy toward people in trouble: addiction, recovery, children in care and neighbors serving. Key measure: Drug overdose deaths (25.6 deaths per 100,000, St. Louis, MO-IL (6 counties summed)). From the St. Louis, MO-IL (6 counties summed) area. The church's movement in it this week: 36 out of 100 (313 ways to serve).

What takes East Alton, IL to Revival

• City Pulse: City Pulse 4 → 40
• Unity: Unity 31 → 45
• Prayer: Prayer 0 → 45
• Discipleship: Discipleship 0 → 45

What affected it

• This week: Witness down 7 — 48% belong to a church
• This quarter: Property crime down 27 percentile points (What East Alton is up against)
• This quarter: Violent crime down 16 percentile points (What East Alton is up against)
• This quarter: Drug overdose deaths up 8 percentile points (What East Alton is up against)

East Alton, IL over time

• Oct 2026 — Entered Liberty

Sources

1. Violent crime: FBI Crime Data Explorer · 2025 · Illinois · fetched Oct 29, 2026
2. Property crime: FBI Crime Data Explorer · 2025 · Illinois · fetched Oct 29, 2026
3. Sexually transmitted infections: CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus · fetched Oct 28, 2026
4. Drug overdose deaths: CDC NCHS, provisional county drug overdose deaths (VSRR) · 2025 · St. Louis, MO-IL (6 counties summed) · fetched Oct 28, 2026
5. Legal gambling: The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml) · 2026 · Illinois · fetched Nov 4, 2026
6. Adult entertainment outlets: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
7. Gambling outlets: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
8. Cannabis outlets: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
9. Liquor outlets and bars: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
10. Predatory lenders: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
11. Abortion facilities (mapped): OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
12. Church adherents: 2020 U.S. Religion Census · 2020 · Madison County, IL · fetched Oct 28, 2026
13. Congregations: 2020 U.S. Religion Census · 2020 · Madison County, IL · fetched Oct 28, 2026
14. Charitable giving: IRS Statistics of Income, county data · 2023 · Madison County, IL · fetched Oct 28, 2026
15. Given to local needs in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · 17119 (4 cities summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
16. Needs met in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · 17119 (4 cities summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
17. Volunteers mobilized in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · 17119 (4 cities summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
18. New believers in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · 17119 (4 cities summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
19. Searches for a church in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · 17119 (4 cities summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
20. Foster and adoptive families in the churches: Church workspace entries (church-attested) · 2026-11 · 17119 (4 cities summed) · fetched Nov 4, 2026 · verified in Joy
21. Christian colleges and universities: NCES IPEDS via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (religious affiliation of colleges) · 2024 · county · fetched Nov 10, 2026
22. Children with married parents: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · East Alton, IL · fetched Oct 28, 2026
23. Adults 25-44 married: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · East Alton, IL · fetched Oct 28, 2026
24. Cohabiting households: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · East Alton, IL · fetched Oct 28, 2026
25. Divorces: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · Illinois · fetched Oct 28, 2026
26. Marriages: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · Illinois · fetched Oct 28, 2026
27. Births to unmarried mothers: CDC WONDER · fetched Oct 28, 2026
28. Religious Liberty in the States score: Religious Liberty in the States · 2026 · Illinois · fetched Oct 28, 2026
29. Safeguards fully in law: Religious Liberty in the States · 2026 · Illinois · fetched Oct 28, 2026
30. State Religious Freedom Restoration Act: Religious Liberty in the States · 2026 · Illinois · fetched Oct 28, 2026
31. Anti-Christian hate crimes: FBI Crime Data Explorer · 2025 · Illinois · fetched Oct 29, 2026
32. School choice: The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml) · 2026 · Illinois · fetched Nov 4, 2026
33. Protections for the unborn: The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml) · 2026 · Illinois · fetched Nov 4, 2026
34. Homeschool freedom: The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml) · 2026 · Illinois · fetched Nov 4, 2026
35. Tone of news coverage of Christianity: GDELT Project, DOC 2.0 API (tone of U.S. news coverage naming Christianity) · 2026-11 · Illinois · fetched Nov 10, 2026

City Score over time

The last 6 weeks, East Alton, IL, Illinois, and United States side by side. The Condition moves by the quarter; the week-to-week line is how the church is moving.

Compare East Alton, IL

• East Alton, IL vs Chicago, IL (Chicago, IL scores 39)
• East Alton, IL vs Davenport, IA (Davenport, IA scores 35)
• East Alton, IL vs Peoria, IL (Peoria, IL scores 34)
• East Alton, IL vs Rockford, IL (Rockford, IL scores 34)
• East Alton, IL vs Champaign, IL (Champaign, IL scores 38)

Every indicator

What East Alton is up against — 55 out of 100

• Violent crime: 244.1 offences per 100,000, better than 56% of cities, down 16 points · 2025, Illinois · FBI Crime Data Explorer
• Property crime: 1473.5 offences per 100,000, better than 44% of cities, down 27 points · 2025, Illinois · FBI Crime Data Explorer
• Sexually transmitted infections: not shown (no data) · CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus
• Drug overdose deaths: 25.6 deaths per 100,000, better than 31% of cities, up 8 points · 2025, St. Louis, MO-IL (6 counties summed) · CDC NCHS, provisional county drug overdose deaths (VSRR)
• Legal gambling: 2 0-3, better than 45% of cities · 2026, Illinois · The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml)
• Adult entertainment outlets: not shown (no data) · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
• Gambling outlets: not shown (no data) · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
• Cannabis outlets: not shown (no data) · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
• Liquor outlets and bars: not shown (no data) · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
• Predatory lenders: not shown (no data) · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
• Abortion facilities (mapped): not shown (no data) · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)

Where grace is growing — 26 out of 100

• Church adherents: 477.8 adherents per 1,000 residents, better than 50% of cities · 2020, Madison County, IL · 2020 U.S. Religion Census
• Congregations: 13.1 congregations per 10,000 residents, better than 24% of cities · 2020, Madison County, IL · 2020 U.S. Religion Census
• Charitable giving: 0.7 itemized charitable deductions as % of adjusted gross income, better than 44% of cities · 2023, Madison County, IL · IRS Statistics of Income, county data
• Given to local needs in Joy: 0 dollars per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, 17119 (4 cities summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
• Needs met in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, 17119 (4 cities summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
• Volunteers mobilized in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, 17119 (4 cities summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
• New believers in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, 17119 (4 cities summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
• Searches for a church in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, 17119 (4 cities summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
• Foster and adoptive families in the churches: 0 per 100,000 residents, better than 0% of cities · 2026-11, 17119 (4 cities summed) · Church workspace entries (church-attested) · verified in Joy
• Christian colleges and universities: 0 per million residents, better than 33% of cities · 2024 · NCES IPEDS via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (religious affiliation of colleges)

Marriage & family — 17 out of 100

• Children with married parents: 33.6 % of own children under 18 in married-couple families, better than 4% of cities · 2020-2024, East Alton, IL · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
• Adults 25-44 married: 34.1 % of people 25-44 married, spouse present, better than 17% of cities · 2020-2024, East Alton, IL · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
• Cohabiting households: 8.2 % of households that are cohabiting couples, better than 34% of cities · 2020-2024, East Alton, IL · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
• Divorces: 11.9 divorced in the last 12 months per 1,000 married people, better than 84% of cities, down 6 points · 2020-2024, Illinois · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
• Marriages: 28.5 married in the last 12 months per 1,000 unmarried people 15+, better than 20% of cities, down 6 points · 2020-2024, Illinois · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
• Births to unmarried mothers: not shown (no data) · CDC WONDER

Christian liberty — 69 out of 100

• Religious Liberty in the States score: 70.4 % of the edition's safeguards in state law, better than 91% of cities, down 4 points · 2026, Illinois · Religious Liberty in the States
• Safeguards fully in law: 12 of the edition's safeguards, better than 91% of cities · 2026, Illinois · Religious Liberty in the States
• State Religious Freedom Restoration Act: 1 1 = full protection, 0 = none, better than 70% of cities · 2026, Illinois · Religious Liberty in the States
• Anti-Christian hate crimes: 0.1 incidents per 100,000, better than 52% of cities · 2025, Illinois · FBI Crime Data Explorer
• School choice: 0 0-2, better than 18% of cities · 2026, Illinois · The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml)
• Protections for the unborn: 0 0-2, better than 29% of cities · 2026, Illinois · The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml)
• Homeschool freedom: 2 0-2, better than 77% of cities · 2026, Illinois · The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml)
• Tone of news coverage of Christianity: -0.4 tone (-10 hostile to +10 favourable), better than 46% of cities · 2026-11, Illinois · GDELT Project, DOC 2.0 API (tone of U.S. news coverage naming Christianity)

Quote and download

Cite it as: Joy Project City Score v1.0, East Alton, IL, 2026-Q4, joyproject.com/cities/east-alton-il/score

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• How the score is built (methodology)
• The Q4 2026 release: rankings and every state's table

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