Ashland, CA vs Brentwood, CA

Ashland is moderately more affordable than Brentwood, with a 11.8% lower cost of living index. Ashland scores 161 compared to 182 for Brentwood, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Brentwood can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Ashland is $2,063/month compared to $2,509/month in Brentwood — a 18% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Ashland is more affordable at $695,300 median vs $791,600.

Median household income in Ashland is $81,604 compared to $139,567 in Brentwood (-41.5%). While Brentwood 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 30.3% of their income on rent, more than the 21.6% in Brentwood. The Brentwood ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.