Arlington, OR vs Bay City, OR

Arlington is moderately more affordable than Bay City, with a 12.9% lower cost of living index. Arlington scores 86 compared to 99 for Bay City, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Bay City can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Arlington is $1,208/month compared to $1,146/month in Bay City — a 5% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Bay City has cheaper rent, Arlington actually has lower median home values ($159,200 vs $337,500).

Median household income in Arlington is $75,625 compared to $80,329 in Bay City (-5.9%). Bay City 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 Arlington spend roughly 19.2% of their income on rent, more than the 17.1% in Bay City.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (53.9°F vs 52.9°F). Bay City receives more rainfall at 37.6" per year compared to 8.6" in Arlington.