Carthage, MS vs Shelby, MS

Shelby is moderately more affordable than Carthage, with a 5.8% lower cost of living index. Carthage scores 60 compared to 57 for Shelby, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Carthage can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Carthage is $549/month compared to $613/month in Shelby — a 10% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Carthage has cheaper rent, Shelby actually has lower median home values ($82,400 vs $146,800).

Median household income in Carthage is $47,304 compared to $27,728 in Shelby (+70.6%). While Carthage 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 13.9% of their income on rent, less than the 26.5% in Shelby.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (63.2°F vs 64°F). Carthage receives more rainfall at 58.2" per year compared to 49" in Shelby.