Thornton, IL vs Wilmington, IL

Thornton, IL and Wilmington, IL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.5% difference in their overall index. Thornton scores 81 while Wilmington scores 81 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 Thornton is $1,099/month compared to $897/month in Wilmington — a 23% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Wilmington has cheaper rent, Thornton actually has lower median home values ($146,600 vs $216,400).

Median household income in Thornton is $61,111 compared to $63,514 in Wilmington (-3.8%). Wilmington offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Thornton spend roughly 21.6% of their income on rent, more than the 16.9% in Wilmington.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (52.1°F vs 49.4°F). Thornton receives more rainfall at 34.4" per year compared to 33.8" in Wilmington.