Carleton, MI vs St. Joseph, MI

Carleton is moderately more affordable than St. Joseph, with a 14.7% lower cost of living index. Carleton scores 74 compared to 86 for St. Joseph, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of St. Joseph 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 $1,079/month in St. Joseph — a 19% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Carleton is more affordable at $177,800 median vs $271,100.

Median household income in Carleton is $63,826 compared to $77,765 in St. Joseph (-17.9%). While St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph.