Bowen, IL vs Farmer City, IL

Bowen, IL and Farmer City, IL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.5% difference in their overall index. Bowen scores 56 while Farmer City scores 57 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Bowen is $539/month compared to $500/month in Farmer City — a 8% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Farmer City has cheaper rent, Bowen actually has lower median home values ($74,400 vs $128,900).

Median household income in Bowen is $70,263 compared to $73,147 in Farmer City (-3.9%). While Farmer City is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Bowen spend roughly 9.2% of their income on rent, more than the 8.2% in Farmer City.