St. Joseph, IL vs Summit, IL

St. Joseph, IL and Summit, IL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.2% difference in their overall index. St. Joseph scores 82 while Summit scores 85 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in St. Joseph is $969/month compared to $1,012/month in Summit — a 4% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while St. Joseph has cheaper rent, Summit actually has lower median home values ($224,800 vs $257,400).

Median household income in St. Joseph is $114,594 compared to $60,417 in Summit (+89.7%). St. Joseph offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of St. Joseph spend roughly 10.1% of their income on rent, less than the 20.1% in Summit.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (52.5°F vs 52.1°F). St. Joseph receives more rainfall at 37" per year compared to 34.4" in Summit.