Laurel, FL vs Mary Esther, FL

Mary Esther is moderately more affordable than Laurel, with a 14.6% lower cost of living index. Laurel scores 116 compared to 101 for Mary Esther, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Laurel can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Laurel is $1,411/month compared to $1,517/month in Mary Esther — a 7% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Laurel has cheaper rent, Mary Esther actually has lower median home values ($255,300 vs $450,200).

Median household income in Laurel is $89,282 compared to $76,510 in Mary Esther (+16.7%). While Laurel is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Laurel spend roughly 19% of their income on rent, less than the 23.8% in Mary Esther.

Climate-wise, Laurel is notably warmer with an average of 74.1°F compared to 69.8°F in Mary Esther. Mary Esther receives more rainfall at 55.4" per year compared to 49.1" in Laurel.