Paxton, IL vs St. Elmo, IL

St. Elmo is moderately more affordable than Paxton, with a 9.6% lower cost of living index. Paxton scores 69 compared to 63 for St. Elmo, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Paxton can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Paxton is $922/month compared to $759/month in St. Elmo — a 22% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: St. Elmo is more affordable at $80,300 median vs $116,700.

Median household income in Paxton is $60,470 compared to $47,115 in St. Elmo (+28.3%). While Paxton is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Paxton spend roughly 18.3% of their income on rent, less than the 19.3% in St. Elmo.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (52.3°F vs 53.4°F). Paxton receives more rainfall at 40.4" per year compared to 36" in St. Elmo.