Beaufort, NC vs Spring Lake, NC

Spring Lake is moderately more affordable than Beaufort, with a 9.8% lower cost of living index. Beaufort scores 85 compared to 78 for Spring Lake, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Beaufort can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Beaufort is $862/month compared to $1,228/month in Spring Lake — a 30% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Beaufort has cheaper rent, Spring Lake actually has lower median home values ($101,300 vs $319,700).

Median household income in Beaufort is $48,111 compared to $50,497 in Spring Lake (-4.7%). Spring Lake offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Beaufort spend roughly 21.5% of their income on rent, less than the 29.2% in Spring Lake.