Mason City, IL vs Matherville, IL

Mason City, IL and Matherville, IL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.4% difference in their overall index. Mason City scores 65 while Matherville scores 66 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 Mason City is $785/month compared to $775/month in Matherville — a 1% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Matherville has cheaper rent, Mason City actually has lower median home values ($92,200 vs $136,200).

Median household income in Mason City is $64,250 compared to $80,714 in Matherville (-20.4%). While Matherville is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Mason City spend roughly 14.7% of their income on rent, more than the 11.5% in Matherville.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (54°F vs 51.2°F). Matherville receives more rainfall at 38.3" per year compared to 38" in Mason City.