Montgomery, IL vs Wheaton, IL

Montgomery is moderately more affordable than Wheaton, with a 7.6% lower cost of living index. Montgomery scores 116 compared to 125 for Wheaton, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Wheaton can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Montgomery is $1,897/month compared to $1,731/month in Wheaton — a 10% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Wheaton has cheaper rent, Montgomery actually has lower median home values ($270,700 vs $447,700).

Median household income in Montgomery is $96,985 compared to $119,566 in Wheaton (-18.9%). While Wheaton is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Montgomery spend roughly 23.5% of their income on rent, more than the 17.4% in Wheaton.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (49.4°F vs 49.7°F). Montgomery receives more rainfall at 33.8" per year compared to 33.2" in Wheaton.