St. Joseph, IL vs Waterloo, IL

St. Joseph, IL and Waterloo, IL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.8% difference in their overall index. St. Joseph scores 82 while Waterloo scores 79 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 $873/month in Waterloo — a 11% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Waterloo is more affordable at $237,900 median vs $257,400.

Median household income in St. Joseph is $114,594 compared to $92,005 in Waterloo (+24.6%). While St. Joseph is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of St. Joseph spend roughly 10.1% of their income on rent, less than the 11.4% in Waterloo.

Climate-wise, Waterloo is notably warmer with an average of 56.5°F compared to 52.5°F in St. Joseph. Waterloo receives more rainfall at 40.8" per year compared to 37" in St. Joseph.