Elmwood, IL vs Wataga, IL

Wataga is moderately more affordable than Elmwood, with a 8.8% lower cost of living index. Elmwood scores 66 compared to 61 for Wataga, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Elmwood can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Elmwood is $761/month compared to $634/month in Wataga — a 20% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Wataga is more affordable at $95,700 median vs $144,600.

Median household income in Elmwood is $87,644 compared to $57,500 in Wataga (+52.4%). While Elmwood is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Elmwood spend roughly 10.4% of their income on rent, less than the 13.2% in Wataga.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (52.7°F vs 51.2°F). Wataga receives more rainfall at 38.3" per year compared to 37.6" in Elmwood.