Fulton, IL vs Paulding, OH: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Paulding, OH has a modeled overall cost index 12.6% lower than Fulton, IL.

Fulton, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,000 / month
Paulding, OH · modeled 2BR rent
$970 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

Adjust your income and compare the budget ↓
Tap to swap

Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Fulton, IL and Paulding, OH using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $921/month in Paulding, OH

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $138,944 in Paulding, OH

Regional cost estimates: Fulton, IL uses Madison, WI. Paulding, OH uses Fort Wayne, IN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 12.6%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$921
Savings
Annual Impact
$11.1K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Fulton, IL

Population:4K
Cost Index:
86.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$155K

Paulding, OH

Population:4K
Cost Index:
75.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$147K

Planning the move to Paulding?

Organize packing, address changes, and moving-day tasks with a free checklist. Your progress saves in this browser. No account needed.

Plan my move with the free checklist

Fulton, IL

The Prairie State

4K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 4K residents.

Paulding, OH

The Buckeye State

4K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Ohio, this city has a population of 4K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Fulton, IL vs Paulding, OH

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↓ 27.0%
Fulton, IL
$2,299
Paulding, OH
$1,678
Difference
$621
less
Other
↓ 8.1%
Fulton, IL
$1,661
Paulding, OH
$1,527
Difference
$134
less
Healthcare
↓ 14.8%
Fulton, IL
$735
Paulding, OH
$626
Difference
$109
less
Transportation
↓ 6.6%
Fulton, IL
$1,305
Paulding, OH
$1,218
Difference
$86.46
less
All Utilities
↑ 4.0%
Fulton, IL
$520
Paulding, OH
$540
Difference
$20.84
more
Groceries
↑ 0.8%
Fulton, IL
$981
Paulding, OH
$988
Difference
$7.45
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$730
To$740
↑ $10.00
1 Bed
From$780
To$780
→ $0
2 Bed
From$1,000
To$970
↓ $30.00
3 Bed
From$1,320
To$1,340
↑ $20.00
Fulton, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $780–$780/mo

Paulding, OHZIP-level data

1BR range: $780–$780/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Fulton, IL
$6,579
Monthly in Paulding, OH
$921
Difference

Home Values

Fulton
Paulding
$155K
Median Value
$147K
↑ +5.1%
YoY Change
↑ +0.9%
↑ +25.9%
5-Year Change
↑ +35%

Homes in Paulding are 6% less expensive than Fulton

Calculate payment - FultonCalculate payment - Paulding

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $3.0K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$250
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
2.0%
Rate difference

Fulton, IL

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Illinois State Tax
Effective: 5.0%
$7.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.6%
$44.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,797/month
$105.6K

Paulding, OH

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Ohio State Tax
Effective: 3.0%
$4.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.6%
$41.4K
Take-Home Pay
$9,047/month
$108.6K

Additional Tax Information

Fulton, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%
Property Tax:2.2%

Paulding, OH Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.2%
Property Tax:1.6%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Fulton
Paulding
42 Good
Air Quality
45 Good
72.1%
Good Air Days
62.6%
94 Moderate
Climate Risk
91 Moderate
🌊🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌊🌪💨
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
10 days
Heat Days >95°F
17 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
10 days
Heat Days >95°F
17 days

Before moving from Fulton, IL to Paulding, OH

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Paulding, OH for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Fulton, IL. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Fulton to Paulding moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Paulding, OH by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Fulton, IL vs Paulding, OH

How do the cost estimates for Fulton, IL and Paulding, OH compare?

Paulding, OH has a modeled overall cost index 12.6% lower than Fulton, IL. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Fulton, IL, the model estimates $138,944 in Paulding, OH. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Fulton, IL and Paulding, OH?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,000/month in Fulton, IL and $970/month in Paulding, OH. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Illinois and Ohio on TaxTakeHome.com

Similar cost to Paulding, OH

Other cities in a similar price range

Indianapolis, INSt. Louis, MO

Want to compare different cities?

New Comparison