Gardner, IL vs Red Bud, IL

Red Bud is moderately more affordable than Gardner, with a 14.2% lower cost of living index. Gardner scores 82 compared to 72 for Red Bud, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Gardner can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Gardner is $1,024/month compared to $810/month in Red Bud — a 26% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Red Bud is more affordable at $170,300 median vs $183,300.

Median household income in Gardner is $82,125 compared to $68,051 in Red Bud (+20.7%). While Gardner is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Gardner spend roughly 15% of their income on rent, more than the 14.3% in Red Bud.

Climate-wise, Red Bud is notably warmer with an average of 57.7°F compared to 49.4°F in Gardner. Red Bud receives more rainfall at 43.4" per year compared to 33.8" in Gardner.