Carterville, IL vs Marion, IL

Carterville, IL and Marion, IL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.4% difference in their overall index. Carterville scores 75 while Marion scores 72 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 Carterville is $856/month compared to $878/month in Marion — a 3% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Carterville has cheaper rent, Marion actually has lower median home values ($145,300 vs $183,500).

Median household income in Carterville is $65,238 compared to $57,281 in Marion (+13.9%). 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 18.4% in Marion.