Colona, IL vs Sterling, IL

Sterling is moderately more affordable than Colona, with a 6.5% lower cost of living index. Colona scores 70 compared to 66 for Sterling, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Colona can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Colona is $881/month compared to $780/month in Sterling — a 13% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Sterling is more affordable at $107,800 median vs $152,100.

Median household income in Colona is $76,558 compared to $52,647 in Sterling (+45.4%). While Colona is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Colona spend roughly 13.8% of their income on rent, less than the 17.8% in Sterling.