Carlinville, IL vs New Athens, IL

Carlinville is moderately more affordable than New Athens, with a 9.3% lower cost of living index. Carlinville scores 64 compared to 71 for New Athens, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of New Athens can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Carlinville is $736/month compared to $927/month in New Athens — a 21% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Carlinville is more affordable at $108,000 median vs $118,100.

Median household income in Carlinville is $52,738 compared to $61,477 in New Athens (-14.2%). While New Athens is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Carlinville spend roughly 16.7% of their income on rent, less than the 18.1% in New Athens.