Ash Grove, MO vs St. James, MO

Ash Grove is moderately more affordable than St. James, with a 7.8% lower cost of living index. Ash Grove scores 61 compared to 66 for St. James, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of St. James can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Ash Grove is $661/month compared to $814/month in St. James — a 19% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Ash Grove has cheaper rent, St. James actually has lower median home values ($117,200 vs $120,900).

Median household income in Ash Grove is $50,078 compared to $50,644 in St. James (-1.1%). St. James 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 Ash Grove spend roughly 15.8% of their income on rent, less than the 19.3% in St. James.