Lapwai, ID vs St. Maries, ID

Lapwai is moderately more affordable than St. Maries, with a 9.9% lower cost of living index. Lapwai scores 69 compared to 77 for St. Maries, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of St. Maries can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Lapwai is $967/month compared to $859/month in St. Maries — a 13% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while St. Maries has cheaper rent, Lapwai actually has lower median home values ($114,000 vs $205,400).

Median household income in Lapwai is $60,197 compared to $52,468 in St. Maries (+14.7%). Lapwai offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Lapwai spend roughly 19.3% of their income on rent, less than the 19.6% in St. Maries.