Matherville, IL vs Prairie Grove, IL

The cost of living difference between Matherville, IL and Prairie Grove, IL is dramatic. Matherville is 51.5% cheaper than Prairie Grove, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Matherville has a cost index of 66 while Prairie Grove sits at 136, 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 Matherville is $775/month compared to $2,110/month in Prairie Grove — a 63% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Matherville is more affordable at $136,200 median vs $439,100.

Median household income in Matherville is $80,714 compared to $138,229 in Prairie Grove (-41.6%). The higher salaries in Prairie Grove partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Matherville spend roughly 11.5% of their income on rent, less than the 18.3% in Prairie Grove.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.2°F vs 50.8°F). Matherville receives more rainfall at 38.3" per year compared to 32.3" in Prairie Grove.