Gun Barrel City, TX vs Sour Lake, TX

Gun Barrel City, TX and Sour Lake, TX have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.9% difference in their overall index. Gun Barrel City scores 83 while Sour Lake scores 80 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 Gun Barrel City is $922/month compared to $1,164/month in Sour Lake — a 21% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Gun Barrel City has cheaper rent, Sour Lake actually has lower median home values ($161,800 vs $229,300).

Median household income in Gun Barrel City is $69,273 compared to $73,190 in Sour Lake (-5.4%). Sour Lake offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Gun Barrel City spend roughly 16% of their income on rent, less than the 19.1% in Sour Lake.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (67°F vs 69.9°F). Sour Lake receives more rainfall at 62.1" per year compared to 39.3" in Gun Barrel City.