Laurel, MS vs Louisville, MS

Louisville is moderately more affordable than Laurel, with a 11.9% lower cost of living index. Laurel scores 66 compared to 59 for Louisville, 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 $839/month compared to $539/month in Louisville — a 56% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Louisville has cheaper rent, Laurel actually has lower median home values ($110,200 vs $135,800).

Median household income in Laurel is $37,781 compared to $37,679 in Louisville (+0.3%). Laurel does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Laurel spend roughly 26.6% of their income on rent, more than the 17.2% in Louisville.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (66.5°F vs 65.9°F). Laurel receives more rainfall at 58.9" per year compared to 54.8" in Louisville.