Ernest, PA vs Smithfield, PA

Ernest is moderately more affordable than Smithfield, with a 8% lower cost of living index. Ernest scores 68 compared to 74 for Smithfield, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Smithfield can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Ernest is $929/month compared to $893/month in Smithfield — a 4% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Smithfield has cheaper rent, Ernest actually has lower median home values ($81,000 vs $169,600).

Median household income in Ernest is $68,750 compared to $76,250 in Smithfield (-9.8%). While Smithfield is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Ernest spend roughly 16.2% of their income on rent, more than the 14.1% in Smithfield.