| Index | Nelson | Illinois | National |
| Cost of living index | 83 | 98 | 100 |
| Index | Nelson | Illinois | National |
| Goods & Services index | 96 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries index | 94 | 97 | 100 |
| Health care index | 105 | 100 | 100 |
| Housing index | 49 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation index | 109 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities index | 90 | 97 | 100 |
| Cost of living index | |
| Goods & Services index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $37,292 | $3,108 | $870 | $1,119 |
| Renters | $21,250 | $1,771 | $496 | $638 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Illinois | 6.25% | 10.25% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Illinois | 4.95% | 4.95% |
| Item | Nelson | National avg. | Difference |
| Haircut | $16.10 | $17.49 | 7.9% |
| Beauty Salon | $32.29 | $38.17 | 15.4% |
| Toothpaste | $1.83 | $2.32 | 21.2% |
| Shampoo | $1.03 | $1.01 | 1.8% |
| Movie | $11.59 | $10.72 | 8.1% |
| Bowling | $12.83 | $13.86 | 7.4% |
| Item | Nelson | National avg. | Difference |
| Ground Beef | $3.91 | $3.90 | 0.3% |
| Fried Chicken | $1.49 | $1.40 | 6.8% |
| Milk | $1.84 | $1.96 | 6.2% |
| Potatoes | $3.23 | $3.18 | 1.5% |
| Pizza | $10.49 | $10.39 | 0.9% |
| Beer | $8.01 | $9.23 | 13.2% |
| Item | Nelson | National avg. | Difference |
| Optometrist | $70.14 | $106.34 | 34.0% |
| Doctor | $151.00 | $115.25 | 31.0% |
| Dentist | $96.67 | $98.38 | 1.7% |
| Ibuprofen | $9.74 | $9.26 | 5.2% |
| Lipitor | $472.83 | $466.47 | 1.4% |
| Item | Nelson | National avg. | Difference |
| Home Price | $70,800.00 | $184,700.00 | 61.7% |
| Avg. Mortgage Payment | $833.50 | $1,273.32 | 34.5% |
| Apartment Rent | $700.00 | $949.00 | 26.2% |
| Item | Nelson | National avg. | Difference |
| Gasoline | $2.94 | $2.59 | 13.6% |
| Tire Balancing | $51.17 | $48.90 | 4.7% |
| Item | Nelson | National avg. | Difference |
| All Electricity | $131.21 | $167.60 | 21.7% |
| Phone | $188.52 | $163.42 | 15.4% |
| City, State | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Deer Grove, IL | 39 | 99 | -1% |
| Harmon, IL | 151 | 82 | -18% |
| Rock Falls, IL | 9,104 | 83 | -17% |
| Milledgeville, IL | 1,052 | 83 | -17% |
| Sterling, IL | 15,071 | 83 | -17% |
| Nelson, IL | 132 | 83 | -17% |
| City, State | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Tatitlek, AK | 132 | 102 | 2% |
| Port Wing, WI | 132 | 90 | -10% |
| Custer, MT | 132 | 85 | -15% |
| Heidelberg, MN | 132 | 108 | 8% |
| Palo Blanco, TX | 132 | 70 | -30% |
| Nelson, IL | 132 | 83 | -17% |