East Helena, MT vs Orchard Homes, MT

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. East Helena is 16.7% cheaper than Orchard Homes. With a cost index of 84 vs 101, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from East Helena to Orchard Homes should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in East Helena is $1,020/month compared to $962/month in Orchard Homes — a 6% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Orchard Homes has cheaper rent, East Helena actually has lower median home values ($254,400 vs $473,100).

Median household income in East Helena is $53,611 compared to $68,649 in Orchard Homes (-21.9%). While Orchard Homes is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of East Helena spend roughly 22.8% of their income on rent, more than the 16.8% in Orchard Homes.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (45.5°F vs 45.2°F). Orchard Homes receives more rainfall at 14.1" per year compared to 11.4" in East Helena.