Carthage, MO vs Waynesville, MO

Carthage is moderately more affordable than Waynesville, with a 10.6% lower cost of living index. Carthage scores 68 compared to 76 for Waynesville, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Waynesville can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Carthage is $897/month compared to $899/month in Waynesville — a 0% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Carthage is more affordable at $133,500 median vs $204,100.

Median household income in Carthage is $50,849 compared to $75,179 in Waynesville (-32.4%). While Waynesville is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Carthage spend roughly 21.2% of their income on rent, more than the 14.3% in Waynesville.