Decatur, IL vs Rock Island, IL

Decatur is moderately more affordable than Rock Island, with a 5% lower cost of living index. Decatur scores 62 compared to 66 for Rock Island, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Rock Island can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Decatur is $796/month compared to $819/month in Rock Island — a 3% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Decatur is more affordable at $97,300 median vs $118,400.

Median household income in Decatur is $50,809 compared to $57,292 in Rock Island (-11.3%). While Rock Island is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Decatur spend roughly 18.8% of their income on rent, more than the 17.2% in Rock Island.