Fern Prairie, WA vs North Fort Lewis, WA

Fern Prairie is moderately more affordable than North Fort Lewis, with a 6.7% lower cost of living index. Fern Prairie scores 127 compared to 136 for North Fort Lewis, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of North Fort Lewis can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

Renters will find that Fern Prairie has a median rent of $1,482/month while North Fort Lewis comes in at $2,375/month, a 38% difference.

Median household income in Fern Prairie is $110,476 compared to $72,778 in North Fort Lewis (+51.8%). Fern Prairie offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Fern Prairie spend roughly 16.1% of their income on rent, less than the 39.2% in North Fort Lewis. The Fern Prairie ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (54.7°F vs 51.9°F). North Fort Lewis receives more rainfall at 42" per year compared to 40.7" in Fern Prairie.