Havre, MT vs Shelby, MT

Havre, MT and Shelby, MT have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.4% difference in their overall index. Havre scores 73 while Shelby scores 73 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 Havre is $802/month compared to $769/month in Shelby — a 4% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Shelby has cheaper rent, Havre actually has lower median home values ($197,600 vs $206,000).

Median household income in Havre is $58,000 compared to $53,357 in Shelby (+8.7%). While Havre is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Havre spend roughly 16.6% of their income on rent, less than the 17.3% in Shelby.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (43.6°F vs 41.8°F). Havre receives more rainfall at 11.8" per year compared to 10.8" in Shelby.