Ashland, AL vs Roanoke, AL

Ashland is moderately more affordable than Roanoke, with a 5.9% lower cost of living index. Ashland scores 56 compared to 60 for Roanoke, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Roanoke can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Ashland is $352/month compared to $589/month in Roanoke — a 40% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Ashland has cheaper rent, Roanoke actually has lower median home values ($129,100 vs $173,900).

Median household income in Ashland is $41,875 compared to $48,083 in Roanoke (-12.9%). While Roanoke is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Ashland spend roughly 10.1% of their income on rent, less than the 14.7% in Roanoke.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (63.1°F vs 63.1°F). Roanoke receives more rainfall at 52.1" per year compared to 52.1" in Ashland.