Hattiesburg, MS vs Laurel, MS

Laurel is moderately more affordable than Hattiesburg, with a 12.2% lower cost of living index. Hattiesburg scores 74 compared to 66 for Laurel, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Hattiesburg can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Hattiesburg is $995/month compared to $839/month in Laurel — a 19% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Laurel is more affordable at $110,200 median vs $153,600.

Median household income in Hattiesburg is $44,140 compared to $37,781 in Laurel (+16.8%). While Hattiesburg is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Hattiesburg spend roughly 27.1% of their income on rent, more than the 26.6% in Laurel.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (66.5°F vs 66.5°F). Laurel receives more rainfall at 58.9" per year compared to 58.9" in Hattiesburg.