Alpha, IL vs Fairmont City, IL

Alpha, IL and Fairmont City, IL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.6% difference in their overall index. Alpha scores 70 while Fairmont City scores 69 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Alpha is $957/month compared to $1,012/month in Fairmont City — a 5% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Alpha has cheaper rent, Fairmont City actually has lower median home values ($65,500 vs $115,700).

Median household income in Alpha is $75,139 compared to $43,333 in Fairmont City (+73.4%). While Alpha is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Alpha spend roughly 15.3% of their income on rent, less than the 28% in Fairmont City.