Carterville, MO vs Fairfax, MO

Fairfax is moderately more affordable than Carterville, with a 10.8% lower cost of living index. Carterville scores 63 compared to 56 for Fairfax, 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 $823/month compared to $560/month in Fairfax — a 47% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fairfax is more affordable at $91,500 median vs $95,400.

Median household income in Carterville is $55,099 compared to $54,107 in Fairfax (+1.8%). Carterville 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 17.9% of their income on rent, more than the 12.4% in Fairfax.