Hamilton, IN vs Rensselaer, IN

Rensselaer is moderately more affordable than Hamilton, with a 10.9% lower cost of living index. Hamilton scores 83 compared to 74 for Rensselaer, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Hamilton can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Hamilton is $929/month compared to $868/month in Rensselaer — a 7% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Rensselaer is more affordable at $149,100 median vs $265,600.

Median household income in Hamilton is $66,884 compared to $61,648 in Rensselaer (+8.5%). The higher salaries in Hamilton partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Hamilton spend roughly 16.7% of their income on rent, less than the 16.9% in Rensselaer.