Forest, MS vs Raymond, MS

Forest is moderately more affordable than Raymond, with a 8.8% lower cost of living index. Forest scores 63 compared to 69 for Raymond, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Raymond can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Forest is $695/month compared to $689/month in Raymond — a 1% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Raymond has cheaper rent, Forest actually has lower median home values ($129,100 vs $206,000).

Median household income in Forest is $51,082 compared to $46,875 in Raymond (+9%). Forest offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Forest spend roughly 16.3% of their income on rent, less than the 17.6% in Raymond.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (63.2°F vs 66°F). Forest receives more rainfall at 58.2" per year compared to 51.3" in Raymond.