Charlestown, IN vs Shelbyville, IN

Charlestown, IN and Shelbyville, IN have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1% difference in their overall index. Charlestown scores 76 while Shelbyville scores 75 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 Charlestown is $903/month compared to $970/month in Shelbyville — a 7% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Charlestown has cheaper rent, Shelbyville actually has lower median home values ($151,100 vs $191,200).

Median household income in Charlestown is $77,548 compared to $58,532 in Shelbyville (+32.5%). While Charlestown is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Charlestown spend roughly 14% of their income on rent, less than the 19.9% in Shelbyville.