Ahtanum, WA vs Shelton, WA

Ahtanum, WA and Shelton, WA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.2% difference in their overall index. Ahtanum scores 103 while Shelton scores 101 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 Ahtanum is $1,486/month compared to $1,298/month in Shelton — a 15% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Shelton has cheaper rent, Ahtanum actually has lower median home values ($293,000 vs $296,100).

Median household income in Ahtanum is $82,188 compared to $60,589 in Shelton (+35.6%). While Ahtanum is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Ahtanum spend roughly 21.7% of their income on rent, less than the 25.7% in Shelton.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.8°F vs 51.4°F). Shelton receives more rainfall at 67.9" per year compared to 8" in Ahtanum.