Boone, NC vs Mills River, NC

Boone is moderately more affordable than Mills River, with a 14.3% lower cost of living index. Boone scores 96 compared to 112 for Mills River, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Mills River can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Boone is $1,080/month compared to $1,611/month in Mills River — a 33% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Boone has cheaper rent, Mills River actually has lower median home values ($358,500 vs $373,600).

Median household income in Boone is $28,633 compared to $88,359 in Mills River (-67.6%). While Mills River is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Boone spend roughly 45.3% of their income on rent, more than the 21.9% in Mills River. The Mills River ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.