Gardner, IL vs St. Joseph, IL

Gardner, IL and St. Joseph, IL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.4% difference in their overall index. Gardner scores 82 while St. Joseph scores 82 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Gardner is $1,024/month compared to $969/month in St. Joseph — a 6% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while St. Joseph has cheaper rent, Gardner actually has lower median home values ($183,300 vs $257,400).

Median household income in Gardner is $82,125 compared to $114,594 in St. Joseph (-28.3%). While St. Joseph 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 10.1% in St. Joseph.

Climate-wise, St. Joseph is notably warmer with an average of 52.5°F compared to 49.4°F in Gardner. St. Joseph receives more rainfall at 37" per year compared to 33.8" in Gardner.