James City, NC vs Smithfield, NC

Smithfield is moderately more affordable than James City, with a 11.5% lower cost of living index. James City scores 79 compared to 70 for Smithfield, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of James City can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in James City is $1,028/month compared to $601/month in Smithfield — a 71% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Smithfield has cheaper rent, James City actually has lower median home values ($175,700 vs $217,000).

Median household income in James City is $63,835 compared to $37,827 in Smithfield (+68.8%). While James City is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of James City spend roughly 19.3% of their income on rent, more than the 19.1% in Smithfield.