Decatur, MS vs Forest, MS

Forest is moderately more affordable than Decatur, with a 6% lower cost of living index. Decatur scores 67 compared to 63 for Forest, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Decatur can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Decatur is $826/month compared to $695/month in Forest — a 19% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Forest has cheaper rent, Decatur actually has lower median home values ($125,800 vs $129,100).

Median household income in Decatur is $47,258 compared to $51,082 in Forest (-7.5%). Forest offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Decatur spend roughly 21% of their income on rent, more than the 16.3% in Forest.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (63.2°F vs 63.2°F). Forest receives more rainfall at 58.2" per year compared to 58.2" in Decatur.