Poplar Grove, IL vs St. Elmo, IL

The cost of living difference between Poplar Grove, IL and St. Elmo, IL is dramatic. St. Elmo is 52% cheaper than Poplar Grove, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Poplar Grove has a cost index of 96 while St. Elmo sits at 63, 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 Poplar Grove is $1,443/month compared to $759/month in St. Elmo — a 90% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: St. Elmo is more affordable at $80,300 median vs $253,500.

Median household income in Poplar Grove is $93,409 compared to $47,115 in St. Elmo (+98.3%). While Poplar Grove is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Poplar Grove spend roughly 18.5% of their income on rent, less than the 19.3% in St. Elmo.

Climate-wise, St. Elmo is notably warmer with an average of 53.4°F compared to 49.4°F in Poplar Grove. Poplar Grove receives more rainfall at 37.2" per year compared to 36" in St. Elmo.