Carbondale, IL vs Jerseyville, IL

Carbondale, IL and Jerseyville, IL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.8% difference in their overall index. Carbondale scores 67 while Jerseyville scores 68 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 Carbondale is $750/month compared to $826/month in Jerseyville — a 9% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Carbondale has cheaper rent, Jerseyville actually has lower median home values ($124,200 vs $124,800).

Median household income in Carbondale is $29,670 compared to $71,623 in Jerseyville (-58.6%). While Jerseyville is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Carbondale spend roughly 30.3% of their income on rent, more than the 13.8% in Jerseyville. The Jerseyville ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.