Mount Auburn, IL vs St. Elmo, IL

St. Elmo is moderately more affordable than Mount Auburn, with a 13.6% lower cost of living index. Mount Auburn scores 72 compared to 63 for St. Elmo, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Mount Auburn can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Mount Auburn is $1,138/month compared to $759/month in St. Elmo — a 50% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: St. Elmo is more affordable at $80,300 median vs $85,000.

Median household income in Mount Auburn is $55,714 compared to $47,115 in St. Elmo (+18.3%). While Mount Auburn is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Mount Auburn spend roughly 24.5% of their income on rent, more than the 19.3% in St. Elmo.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (53.1°F vs 53.4°F). Mount Auburn receives more rainfall at 36.4" per year compared to 36" in St. Elmo.