Arcola, IL vs Forrest, IL

Forrest is moderately more affordable than Arcola, with a 10.1% lower cost of living index. Arcola scores 69 compared to 62 for Forrest, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Arcola can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Arcola is $819/month compared to $663/month in Forrest — a 24% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Forrest is more affordable at $104,000 median vs $122,800.

Median household income in Arcola is $85,697 compared to $70,417 in Forrest (+21.7%). While Arcola is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Arcola spend roughly 11.5% of their income on rent, more than the 11.3% in Forrest.