Carleton, MI vs Hastings, MI

Hastings is moderately more affordable than Carleton, with a 5.1% lower cost of living index. Carleton scores 74 compared to 70 for Hastings, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Carleton can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Carleton is $871/month compared to $785/month in Hastings — a 11% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Hastings is more affordable at $159,000 median vs $177,800.

Median household income in Carleton is $63,826 compared to $56,309 in Hastings (+13.3%). While Carleton is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Carleton spend roughly 16.4% of their income on rent, less than the 16.7% in Hastings.