Carterville, IL vs Charleston, IL

Charleston is moderately more affordable than Carterville, with a 7.5% lower cost of living index. Carterville scores 75 compared to 69 for Charleston, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Carterville can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Carterville is $856/month compared to $819/month in Charleston — a 5% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Charleston is more affordable at $133,700 median vs $183,500.

Median household income in Carterville is $65,238 compared to $49,057 in Charleston (+33%). While Carterville is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Carterville spend roughly 15.7% of their income on rent, less than the 20% in Charleston.