Chester, MT vs Stanford, MT

Stanford is moderately more affordable than Chester, with a 10.3% lower cost of living index. Chester scores 66 compared to 59 for Stanford, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Chester can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Chester is $662/month compared to $425/month in Stanford — a 56% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Stanford has cheaper rent, Chester actually has lower median home values ($156,900 vs $170,100).

Median household income in Chester is $53,583 compared to $52,045 in Stanford (+3%). Chester does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Chester spend roughly 14.8% of their income on rent, more than the 9.8% in Stanford.