Barbourville, KY vs Middlesborough, KY

Middlesborough is moderately more affordable than Barbourville, with a 10.6% lower cost of living index. Barbourville scores 66 compared to 60 for Middlesborough, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Barbourville can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Barbourville is $604/month compared to $670/month in Middlesborough — a 10% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Barbourville has cheaper rent, Middlesborough actually has lower median home values ($88,700 vs $190,200).

Median household income in Barbourville is $20,971 compared to $34,349 in Middlesborough (-38.9%). Middlesborough offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Barbourville spend roughly 34.6% of their income on rent, more than the 23.4% in Middlesborough. The Middlesborough ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.