Darby, PA vs Hazleton, PA

Hazleton is moderately more affordable than Darby, with a 14.4% lower cost of living index. Darby scores 85 compared to 74 for Hazleton, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Darby can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Darby is $1,337/month compared to $1,015/month in Hazleton — a 32% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Hazleton has cheaper rent, Darby actually has lower median home values ($101,900 vs $129,000).

Median household income in Darby is $45,128 compared to $43,379 in Hazleton (+4%). Darby 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 Darby spend roughly 35.6% of their income on rent, more than the 28.1% in Hazleton. The Hazleton ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.