Gulfport, FL vs Mary Esther, FL

Mary Esther is moderately more affordable than Gulfport, with a 7% lower cost of living index. Gulfport scores 108 compared to 101 for Mary Esther, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Gulfport can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Gulfport is $1,487/month compared to $1,517/month in Mary Esther — a 2% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Gulfport has cheaper rent, Mary Esther actually has lower median home values ($255,300 vs $335,100).

Median household income in Gulfport is $68,617 compared to $76,510 in Mary Esther (-10.3%). Mary Esther offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Gulfport spend roughly 26% of their income on rent, more than the 23.8% in Mary Esther.

Climate-wise, Gulfport is notably warmer with an average of 74.7°F compared to 69.8°F in Mary Esther. Mary Esther receives more rainfall at 55.4" per year compared to 46.7" in Gulfport.