Bay St. Louis, MS vs Oxford, MS

Bay St. Louis is moderately more affordable than Oxford, with a 8% lower cost of living index. Bay St. Louis scores 85 compared to 92 for Oxford, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Oxford can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Bay St. Louis is $1,138/month compared to $1,093/month in Oxford — a 4% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Oxford has cheaper rent, Bay St. Louis actually has lower median home values ($231,900 vs $333,400).

Median household income in Bay St. Louis is $70,082 compared to $59,901 in Oxford (+17%). Bay St. Louis offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Bay St. Louis spend roughly 19.5% of their income on rent, less than the 21.9% in Oxford.

Climate-wise, Bay St. Louis is notably warmer with an average of 68.3°F compared to 59.6°F in Oxford. Bay St. Louis receives more rainfall at 62.8" per year compared to 55.5" in Oxford.