Alfred, NY vs St. James, NY

The cost of living difference between Alfred, NY and St. James, NY is dramatic. Alfred is 52.8% cheaper than St. James, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Alfred has a cost index of 75 while St. James sits at 158, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Alfred is $807/month compared to $2,192/month in St. James — a 63% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Alfred is more affordable at $169,100 median vs $632,900.

Median household income in Alfred is $45,357 compared to $130,556 in St. James (-65.3%). While St. James is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Alfred spend roughly 21.4% of their income on rent, more than the 20.1% in St. James.

Climate-wise, St. James is notably warmer with an average of 53.1°F compared to 46.4°F in Alfred. St. James receives more rainfall at 46" per year compared to 37.2" in Alfred.