Empire, MI vs Lexington, MI

Lexington is moderately more affordable than Empire, with a 7.9% lower cost of living index. Empire scores 73 compared to 68 for Lexington, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Empire can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Empire is $379/month compared to $643/month in Lexington — a 41% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Empire has cheaper rent, Lexington actually has lower median home values ($191,000 vs $368,400).

Median household income in Empire is $75,938 compared to $49,091 in Lexington (+54.7%). While Empire is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Empire spend roughly 6% of their income on rent, less than the 15.7% in Lexington.