Essexville, MI vs Muskegon Heights, MI

Essexville, MI and Muskegon Heights, MI have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.2% difference in their overall index. Essexville scores 63 while Muskegon Heights scores 62 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 Essexville is $707/month compared to $826/month in Muskegon Heights — a 14% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Essexville has cheaper rent, Muskegon Heights actually has lower median home values ($55,800 vs $121,200).

Median household income in Essexville is $76,182 compared to $33,780 in Muskegon Heights (+125.5%). While Essexville is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Essexville spend roughly 11.1% of their income on rent, less than the 29.3% in Muskegon Heights.