Counties with the lowest cost of living in Illinois

·Stacker

Appz Dreamer // Shutterstock
Appz Dreamer // Shutterstock

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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#30. Schuyler County, Illinois

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#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)

#29. Stark County, Illinois

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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)

#28. Randolph County, Illinois

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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)

#27. Hancock County, Illinois

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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)

#25. Marion County, Illinois

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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)

#24. Johnson County, Illinois

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#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)

#23. Clay County, Illinois

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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)

#22. Wabash County, Illinois

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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)

#21. Saline County, Illinois

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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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#20. Warren County, Illinois

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#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)

#19. Richland County, Illinois

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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)

#18. Wayne County, Illinois

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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)

#17. Franklin County, Illinois

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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)

#16. Edgar County, Illinois

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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

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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)

#14. Cumberland County, Illinois

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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)

#13. Montgomery County, Illinois

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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)

#12. Pike County, Illinois

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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)

#11. Brown County, Illinois

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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

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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)

#9. Cass County, Illinois

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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)

#8. Greene County, Illinois

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#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)

#7. Lawrence County, Illinois

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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)

#6. Henderson County, Illinois

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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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#5. Hamilton County, Illinois

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#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)

#4. Alexander County, Illinois

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#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)

#3. Edwards County, Illinois

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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)

#2. Pulaski County, Illinois

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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)

#1. Gallatin County, Illinois

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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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