Brooklyn, IL vs Villa Grove, IL

Brooklyn, IL and Villa Grove, IL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.2% difference in their overall index. Brooklyn scores 65 while Villa Grove scores 67 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 Brooklyn is $950/month compared to $901/month in Villa Grove — a 5% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Villa Grove has cheaper rent, Brooklyn actually has lower median home values ($37,200 vs $99,600).

Median household income in Brooklyn is $37,656 compared to $69,900 in Villa Grove (-46.1%). While Villa Grove is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Brooklyn spend roughly 30.3% of their income on rent, more than the 15.5% in Villa Grove. The Villa Grove ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.