Effingham, IL vs Shelbyville, IL

Shelbyville is moderately more affordable than Effingham, with a 5.7% lower cost of living index. Effingham scores 68 compared to 65 for Shelbyville, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Effingham can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Effingham is $696/month compared to $724/month in Shelbyville — a 4% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Effingham has cheaper rent, Shelbyville actually has lower median home values ($111,200 vs $166,700).

Median household income in Effingham is $65,718 compared to $54,400 in Shelbyville (+20.8%). While Effingham is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Effingham spend roughly 12.7% of their income on rent, less than the 16% in Shelbyville.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (53.4°F vs 53.4°F). Shelbyville receives more rainfall at 36" per year compared to 36" in Effingham.