Marengo, IL vs Park Forest, IL

Marengo, IL and Park Forest, IL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.2% difference in their overall index. Marengo scores 85 while Park Forest scores 85 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 Marengo is $1,077/month compared to $1,341/month in Park Forest — a 20% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Marengo has cheaper rent, Park Forest actually has lower median home values ($106,200 vs $206,100).

Median household income in Marengo is $72,586 compared to $62,305 in Park Forest (+16.5%). While Marengo is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Marengo spend roughly 17.8% of their income on rent, less than the 25.8% in Park Forest.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (49.4°F vs 52.1°F). Marengo receives more rainfall at 37.2" per year compared to 34.4" in Park Forest.