Carlinville, IL vs Mattoon, IL

Carlinville, IL and Mattoon, IL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.4% difference in their overall index. Carlinville scores 64 while Mattoon scores 65 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 Carlinville is $736/month compared to $764/month in Mattoon — a 4% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Carlinville has cheaper rent, Mattoon actually has lower median home values ($96,000 vs $108,000).

Median household income in Carlinville is $52,738 compared to $47,308 in Mattoon (+11.5%). Carlinville offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Carlinville spend roughly 16.7% of their income on rent, less than the 19.4% in Mattoon.