Benton City, WA vs Port Townsend, WA
There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Benton City is 19.6% cheaper than Port Townsend. With a cost index of 91 vs 114, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Benton City to Port Townsend should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.
On the housing front, median rent in Benton City is $1,159/month compared to $1,151/month in Port Townsend — a 1% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Port Townsend has cheaper rent, Benton City actually has lower median home values ($262,800 vs $502,500).
Median household income in Benton City is $52,581 compared to $60,015 in Port Townsend (-12.4%). The higher salaries in Port Townsend partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Benton City spend roughly 26.5% of their income on rent, more than the 23% in Port Townsend.
Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (53.3°F vs 52.1°F). Port Townsend receives more rainfall at 19.9" per year compared to 7.6" in Benton City.
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