Arcola, IL vs Payson, IL

Arcola is moderately more affordable than Payson, with a 5.6% lower cost of living index. Arcola scores 69 compared to 73 for Payson, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Payson 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 $967/month in Payson — a 15% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Arcola has cheaper rent, Payson actually has lower median home values ($118,000 vs $122,800).

Median household income in Arcola is $85,697 compared to $62,262 in Payson (+37.6%). Arcola offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Arcola spend roughly 11.5% of their income on rent, less than the 18.6% in Payson.