Castle Hayne, NC vs River Bend, NC

Castle Hayne, NC and River Bend, NC have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.4% difference in their overall index. Castle Hayne scores 87 while River Bend scores 91 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Castle Hayne is $897/month compared to $1,296/month in River Bend — a 31% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Castle Hayne has cheaper rent, River Bend actually has lower median home values ($233,700 vs $326,700).

Median household income in Castle Hayne is $69,729 compared to $68,314 in River Bend (+2.1%). Castle Hayne offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Castle Hayne spend roughly 15.4% of their income on rent, less than the 22.8% in River Bend.