Lakewood, WA vs Union Hill-Novelty Hill, WA

The cost of living difference between Lakewood, WA and Union Hill-Novelty Hill, WA is dramatic. Lakewood is 44.9% cheaper than Union Hill-Novelty Hill, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Lakewood has a cost index of 118 while Union Hill-Novelty Hill sits at 214, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Lakewood is $1,460/month compared to $2,597/month in Union Hill-Novelty Hill — a 44% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Lakewood is more affordable at $420,500 median vs $1,174,100.

Median household income in Lakewood is $70,524 compared to $181,820 in Union Hill-Novelty Hill (-61.2%). While Union Hill-Novelty Hill is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Lakewood spend roughly 24.8% of their income on rent, more than the 17.1% in Union Hill-Novelty Hill.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.9°F vs 53.2°F). Lakewood receives more rainfall at 42" per year compared to 37.8" in Union Hill-Novelty Hill.