Ashton, IL vs Carthage, IL

Carthage is moderately more affordable than Ashton, with a 10.8% lower cost of living index. Ashton scores 71 compared to 64 for Carthage, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Ashton can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Ashton is $931/month compared to $679/month in Carthage — a 37% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Carthage has cheaper rent, Ashton actually has lower median home values ($106,300 vs $115,600).

Median household income in Ashton is $61,389 compared to $75,179 in Carthage (-18.3%). Carthage offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Ashton spend roughly 18.2% of their income on rent, more than the 10.8% in Carthage.