Alameda, CA vs Hercules, CA

Hercules is moderately more affordable than Alameda, with a 10.1% lower cost of living index. Alameda scores 212 compared to 193 for Hercules, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Alameda can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Alameda is $2,394/month compared to $3,003/month in Hercules — a 20% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Alameda has cheaper rent, Hercules actually has lower median home values ($741,200 vs $1,203,900).

Median household income in Alameda is $132,015 compared to $130,583 in Hercules (+1.1%). Alameda does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Alameda spend roughly 21.8% of their income on rent, less than the 27.6% in Hercules.