Athens, IL vs Mount Zion, IL

Mount Zion is moderately more affordable than Athens, with a 6.5% lower cost of living index. Athens scores 72 compared to 68 for Mount Zion, 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 $696/month in Mount Zion — a 28% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Mount Zion has cheaper rent, Athens actually has lower median home values ($164,200 vs $200,300).

Median household income in Athens is $85,000 compared to $110,786 in Mount Zion (-23.3%). Mount Zion 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, more than the 7.5% in Mount Zion.