Carterville, IL vs Lake of the Woods, IL

Carterville is moderately more affordable than Lake of the Woods, with a 11.3% lower cost of living index. Carterville scores 75 compared to 84 for Lake of the Woods, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Lake of the Woods 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 $1,201/month in Lake of the Woods — a 29% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Carterville is more affordable at $183,500 median vs $194,300.

Median household income in Carterville is $65,238 compared to $69,054 in Lake of the Woods (-5.5%). Lake of the Woods does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Carterville spend roughly 15.7% of their income on rent, less than the 20.9% in Lake of the Woods.