Rantoul, IL vs Shelbyville, IL

Shelbyville is moderately more affordable than Rantoul, with a 5.1% lower cost of living index. Rantoul scores 68 compared to 65 for Shelbyville, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Rantoul can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Rantoul is $899/month compared to $724/month in Shelbyville — a 24% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Shelbyville has cheaper rent, Rantoul actually has lower median home values ($109,200 vs $111,200).

Median household income in Rantoul is $49,821 compared to $54,400 in Shelbyville (-8.4%). Shelbyville offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Rantoul spend roughly 21.7% of their income on rent, more than the 16% in Shelbyville.

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