Charlevoix, MI vs Fair Plain, MI

Fair Plain is moderately more affordable than Charlevoix, with a 13.8% lower cost of living index. Charlevoix scores 84 compared to 74 for Fair Plain, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Charlevoix can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Charlevoix is $880/month compared to $989/month in Fair Plain — a 11% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Charlevoix has cheaper rent, Fair Plain actually has lower median home values ($147,800 vs $294,400).

Median household income in Charlevoix is $52,344 compared to $55,536 in Fair Plain (-5.7%). Fair Plain offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Charlevoix spend roughly 20.2% of their income on rent, less than the 21.4% in Fair Plain.