Jena, LA vs Minden, LA

Minden is moderately more affordable than Jena, with a 10.8% lower cost of living index. Jena scores 72 compared to 65 for Minden, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Jena can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Jena is $922/month compared to $803/month in Minden — a 15% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Minden is more affordable at $116,700 median vs $157,900.

Median household income in Jena is $85,955 compared to $29,597 in Minden (+190.4%). While Jena is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Jena spend roughly 12.9% of their income on rent, less than the 32.6% in Minden. The Jena ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.