Hampshire, IL vs Melrose Park, IL

The cost of living difference between Hampshire, IL and Melrose Park, IL is dramatic. Melrose Park is 42% cheaper than Hampshire, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Hampshire has a cost index of 133 while Melrose Park sits at 94, 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 Hampshire is $2,356/month compared to $1,194/month in Melrose Park — a 97% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Melrose Park is more affordable at $265,000 median vs $316,200.

Median household income in Hampshire is $107,774 compared to $64,740 in Melrose Park (+66.5%). While Hampshire is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Hampshire spend roughly 26.2% of their income on rent, more than the 22.1% in Melrose Park.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (49.7°F vs 51.3°F). Melrose Park receives more rainfall at 37.9" per year compared to 33.2" in Hampshire.