Counties with the lowest cost of living in Illinois

Written by:
April 12, 2024
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Counties with the lowest cost of living in Illinois

While inflation has fallen from 2022 peaks, high prices are still eating into household budgets. Many Americans are paying keen attention to their finances and finding ways to reduce spending.

Home prices, rent, and food inflation, as well as higher prices for gas in the last couple of years, are making it so that each dollar earned has even less purchasing power than before. In the first two months of 2024, Americans were able to save about 3.9% of their disposable income, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, well below historic levels.

Stacker compiled a list of counties with the lowest cost of living in Illinois using rankings from Niche.

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Kristen Prahl // Shutterstock

#30. Schuyler County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 734
- Population: 6,879
- Median household income: $63,737
- Median home value: $100,500 (81% own)
- Median rent: $817 (19% rent)

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#29. Stark County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 731
- Population: 5,395
- Median household income: $58,125
- Median home value: $95,900 (76% own)
- Median rent: $758 (24% rent)

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#28. Randolph County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 687
- Population: 30,413
- Median household income: $63,860
- Median home value: $129,400 (76% own)
- Median rent: $740 (24% rent)

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#27. Hancock County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 667
- Population: 17,582
- Median household income: $61,026
- Median home value: $104,200 (82% own)
- Median rent: $736 (18% rent)

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#26. Crawford County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 647
- Population: 18,729
- Median household income: $64,163
- Median home value: $108,200 (79% own)
- Median rent: $763 (21% rent)

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#25. Marion County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 644
- Population: 37,543
- Median household income: $59,099
- Median home value: $96,200 (74% own)
- Median rent: $734 (26% rent)

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Roberto Galan // Shutterstock

#24. Johnson County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 623
- Population: 13,313
- Median household income: $63,295
- Median home value: $141,200 (85% own)
- Median rent: $630 (15% rent)

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#23. Clay County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 594
- Population: 13,248
- Median household income: $58,028
- Median home value: $103,600 (77% own)
- Median rent: $706 (23% rent)

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#22. Wabash County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 592
- Population: 11,321
- Median household income: $54,074
- Median home value: $94,100 (77% own)
- Median rent: $728 (23% rent)

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#21. Saline County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 585
- Population: 23,662
- Median household income: $51,710
- Median home value: $87,900 (74% own)
- Median rent: $720 (26% rent)

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Tabitha L Jozwick // Shutterstock

#20. Warren County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 580
- Population: 16,760
- Median household income: $62,700
- Median home value: $98,200 (76% own)
- Median rent: $697 (24% rent)

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#19. Richland County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 567
- Population: 15,716
- Median household income: $61,607
- Median home value: $106,400 (73% own)
- Median rent: $724 (27% rent)

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#18. Wayne County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 556
- Population: 16,127
- Median household income: $53,522
- Median home value: $107,900 (79% own)
- Median rent: $607 (21% rent)

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#17. Franklin County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 537
- Population: 37,810
- Median household income: $51,031
- Median home value: $87,500 (75% own)
- Median rent: $725 (25% rent)

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#16. Edgar County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 535
- Population: 16,852
- Median household income: $56,687
- Median home value: $94,100 (74% own)
- Median rent: $716 (26% rent)

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#15. Perry County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 530
- Population: 20,996
- Median household income: $56,338
- Median home value: $102,000 (77% own)
- Median rent: $656 (23% rent)

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#14. Cumberland County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 529
- Population: 10,447
- Median household income: $71,274
- Median home value: $116,000 (81% own)
- Median rent: $683 (19% rent)

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#13. Montgomery County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 505
- Population: 28,352
- Median household income: $61,796
- Median home value: $102,000 (75% own)
- Median rent: $684 (25% rent)

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#12. Pike County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 478
- Population: 14,776
- Median household income: $55,514
- Median home value: $97,000 (79% own)
- Median rent: $641 (21% rent)

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#11. Brown County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 471
- Population: 6,334
- Median household income: $64,760
- Median home value: $122,100 (71% own)
- Median rent: $625 (29% rent)

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#10. White County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 455
- Population: 13,834
- Median household income: $54,605
- Median home value: $101,000 (76% own)
- Median rent: $672 (24% rent)

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#9. Cass County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 444
- Population: 12,955
- Median household income: $64,826
- Median home value: $92,000 (77% own)
- Median rent: $681 (23% rent)

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Henryk Sadura // Shutterstock

#8. Greene County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 413
- Population: 12,015
- Median household income: $58,900
- Median home value: $92,400 (77% own)
- Median rent: $741 (23% rent)

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#7. Lawrence County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 392
- Population: 15,302
- Median household income: $55,811
- Median home value: $93,900 (75% own)
- Median rent: $781 (25% rent)

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#6. Henderson County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 359
- Population: 6,374
- Median household income: $64,946
- Median home value: $99,800 (86% own)
- Median rent: $732 (14% rent)

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Roberto Galan // Shutterstock

#5. Hamilton County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 301
- Population: 8,008
- Median household income: $60,574
- Median home value: $100,300 (77% own)
- Median rent: $690 (23% rent)

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Roberto Galan // Shutterstock

#4. Alexander County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 279
- Population: 5,261
- Median household income: $40,365
- Median home value: $58,600 (78% own)
- Median rent: $652 (22% rent)

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#3. Edwards County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 240
- Population: 6,182
- Median household income: $60,784
- Median home value: $92,700 (79% own)
- Median rent: $710 (21% rent)

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#2. Pulaski County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 196
- Population: 5,177
- Median household income: $41,038
- Median home value: $81,600 (72% own)
- Median rent: $599 (28% rent)

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#1. Gallatin County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 53
- Population: 4,967
- Median household income: $51,868
- Median home value: $81,000 (77% own)
- Median rent: $532 (23% rent)

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 32 states.

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