Ellettsville, IN vs Shelbyville, IN

Ellettsville, IN and Shelbyville, IN have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.6% difference in their overall index. Ellettsville scores 74 while Shelbyville scores 75 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Ellettsville is $746/month compared to $970/month in Shelbyville — a 23% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Ellettsville has cheaper rent, Shelbyville actually has lower median home values ($151,100 vs $224,400).

Median household income in Ellettsville is $82,238 compared to $58,532 in Shelbyville (+40.5%). Ellettsville offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Ellettsville spend roughly 10.9% of their income on rent, less than the 19.9% in Shelbyville.