Ashland, NE vs Friend, NE

Friend is moderately more affordable than Ashland, with a 11.5% lower cost of living index. Ashland scores 79 compared to 71 for Friend, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Ashland can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Ashland is $913/month compared to $808/month in Friend — a 13% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Friend is more affordable at $171,200 median vs $229,100.

Median household income in Ashland is $80,948 compared to $84,861 in Friend (-4.6%). Friend offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Ashland spend roughly 13.5% of their income on rent, more than the 11.4% in Friend.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.2°F vs 51.5°F). Ashland receives more rainfall at 32.3" per year compared to 29.5" in Friend.