Carrollton, IL vs Salem, IL

Salem is moderately more affordable than Carrollton, with a 9.7% lower cost of living index. Carrollton scores 71 compared to 65 for Salem, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Carrollton can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Carrollton is $920/month compared to $752/month in Salem — a 22% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Salem is more affordable at $99,800 median vs $114,100.

Median household income in Carrollton is $64,464 compared to $57,083 in Salem (+12.9%). While Carrollton is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Carrollton spend roughly 17.1% of their income on rent, more than the 15.8% in Salem.