Athens, IL vs Beardstown, IL

Beardstown is moderately more affordable than Athens, with a 13.7% lower cost of living index. Athens scores 72 compared to 64 for Beardstown, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Athens can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Athens is $893/month compared to $769/month in Beardstown — a 16% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Beardstown is more affordable at $80,800 median vs $164,200.

Median household income in Athens is $85,000 compared to $58,765 in Beardstown (+44.6%). While Athens is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Athens spend roughly 12.6% of their income on rent, less than the 15.7% in Beardstown.