Atkinson, IL vs Madison, IL

Atkinson is moderately more affordable than Madison, with a 7.8% lower cost of living index. Atkinson scores 63 compared to 68 for Madison, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Madison can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Atkinson is $725/month compared to $1,010/month in Madison — a 28% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Atkinson has cheaper rent, Madison actually has lower median home values ($51,200 vs $116,900).

Median household income in Atkinson is $53,712 compared to $44,181 in Madison (+21.6%). Atkinson offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Atkinson spend roughly 16.2% of their income on rent, less than the 27.4% in Madison.