Laurel, MS vs Waveland, MS

Laurel is moderately more affordable than Waveland, with a 9.3% lower cost of living index. Laurel scores 66 compared to 73 for Waveland, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Waveland 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 $828/month in Waveland — a 1% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Waveland has cheaper rent, Laurel actually has lower median home values ($110,200 vs $201,800).

Median household income in Laurel is $37,781 compared to $58,795 in Waveland (-35.7%). While Waveland 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 26.6% of their income on rent, more than the 16.9% in Waveland.

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