Barstow, CA vs Tulare, CA

Barstow is moderately more affordable than Tulare, with a 13% lower cost of living index. Barstow scores 88 compared to 101 for Tulare, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Tulare can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Barstow is $1,065/month compared to $1,354/month in Tulare — a 21% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Barstow is more affordable at $222,600 median vs $301,200.

Median household income in Barstow is $51,811 compared to $69,517 in Tulare (-25.5%). While Tulare is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Barstow spend roughly 24.7% of their income on rent, more than the 23.4% in Tulare.