Centralia, WA vs Union Gap, WA

Union Gap is moderately more affordable than Centralia, with a 7.6% lower cost of living index. Centralia scores 90 compared to 83 for Union Gap, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Centralia can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Centralia is $1,003/month compared to $1,111/month in Union Gap — a 10% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Centralia has cheaper rent, Union Gap actually has lower median home values ($186,200 vs $267,600).

Median household income in Centralia is $52,387 compared to $58,958 in Union Gap (-11.1%). Union Gap 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 23% of their income on rent, more than the 22.6% in Union Gap.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.5°F vs 50.8°F). Centralia receives more rainfall at 50.6" per year compared to 8" in Union Gap.