Happy Valley, CA vs Phelan, CA

Happy Valley, CA and Phelan, CA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.1% difference in their overall index. Happy Valley scores 114 while Phelan scores 116 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 Happy Valley is $1,766/month compared to $1,623/month in Phelan — a 9% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Phelan has cheaper rent, Happy Valley actually has lower median home values ($293,800 vs $357,200).

Median household income in Happy Valley is $80,578 compared to $83,759 in Phelan (-3.8%). While Phelan is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Happy Valley spend roughly 26.3% of their income on rent, more than the 23.3% in Phelan.

Climate-wise, Phelan is notably warmer with an average of 66.8°F compared to 63.4°F in Happy Valley. Happy Valley receives more rainfall at 33.5" per year compared to 11.6" in Phelan.