Kiln, MS vs West Hattiesburg, MS

West Hattiesburg is moderately more affordable than Kiln, with a 9.7% lower cost of living index. Kiln scores 87 compared to 79 for West Hattiesburg, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Kiln can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Kiln is $1,430/month compared to $1,014/month in West Hattiesburg — a 41% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while West Hattiesburg has cheaper rent, Kiln actually has lower median home values ($150,500 vs $209,100).

Median household income in Kiln is $70,708 compared to $38,269 in West Hattiesburg (+84.8%). While Kiln is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Kiln spend roughly 24.3% of their income on rent, less than the 31.8% in West Hattiesburg. The Kiln ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (68.3°F vs 66.5°F). Kiln receives more rainfall at 62.8" per year compared to 58.9" in West Hattiesburg.