Harrisburg, NC vs St. James, NC

Harrisburg is moderately more affordable than St. James, with a 5.7% lower cost of living index. Harrisburg scores 142 compared to 151 for St. James, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of St. James can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Harrisburg is $2,407/month compared to $2,258/month in St. James — a 7% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while St. James has cheaper rent, Harrisburg actually has lower median home values ($431,900 vs $599,300).

Median household income in Harrisburg is $143,393 compared to $113,670 in St. James (+26.1%). Harrisburg offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Harrisburg spend roughly 20.1% of their income on rent, less than the 23.8% in St. James.