Centralia, MO vs Jennings, MO

Centralia, MO and Jennings, MO have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.4% difference in their overall index. Centralia scores 67 while Jennings scores 67 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 Centralia is $723/month compared to $944/month in Jennings — a 23% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Centralia has cheaper rent, Jennings actually has lower median home values ($62,300 vs $165,600).

Median household income in Centralia is $51,868 compared to $37,356 in Jennings (+38.8%). Centralia offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Centralia spend roughly 16.7% of their income on rent, less than the 30.3% in Jennings. The Centralia ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.