Athens, PA vs Middletown, PA

Athens is moderately more affordable than Middletown, with a 11.5% lower cost of living index. Athens scores 72 compared to 82 for Middletown, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Middletown can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Athens is $834/month compared to $1,145/month in Middletown — a 27% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Athens has cheaper rent, Middletown actually has lower median home values ($159,800 vs $166,800).

Median household income in Athens is $49,588 compared to $54,778 in Middletown (-9.5%). The higher salaries in Middletown partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Athens spend roughly 20.2% of their income on rent, less than the 25.1% in Middletown.