Hainesville, IL vs Wood River, IL

The cost of living difference between Hainesville, IL and Wood River, IL is dramatic. Wood River is 30.7% cheaper than Hainesville, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Hainesville has a cost index of 91 while Wood River sits at 69, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Hainesville is $1,219/month compared to $915/month in Wood River — a 33% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Wood River is more affordable at $103,200 median vs $218,500.

Median household income in Hainesville is $126,125 compared to $65,960 in Wood River (+91.2%). While Hainesville is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Hainesville spend roughly 11.6% of their income on rent, less than the 16.6% in Wood River.