Athens, IL vs McLean, IL

Athens is moderately more affordable than McLean, with a 9.2% lower cost of living index. Athens scores 72 compared to 80 for McLean, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of McLean 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 $1,225/month in McLean — a 27% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Athens has cheaper rent, McLean actually has lower median home values ($124,700 vs $164,200).

Median household income in Athens is $85,000 compared to $84,766 in McLean (+0.3%). Athens offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Athens spend roughly 12.6% of their income on rent, less than the 17.3% in McLean.